Sania-Shoaib at their Walima ceremony in Lahore!!!

Newly-wed couple Shoaib Malik and Sania Mirza, hounded by fans and the media since their arrival in Pakistan last week, have appealed to journalists looking for masala to respect their privacy and lessen the hype about their marriage. In an apparent bid to address the Pakistani media’s contention that the couple were not making any public appearances or speaking to journalists, Shoaib and Sania gave interviews to some TV news channels.


They also recorded their protest with the media for intruding into their life. “The media needs masala (spice), but it must behave in a way that our personal life does not get affected,” Sania said. Shoaib added, “Besides being a husband, I have to play the role of a security guard.” Shoaib said he was happy to see the celebrations in Pakistan following his marriage but called on the media to reduce the hype associated with the event.
Asked by a TV news channel why she had not been seen smiling in public, Sania replied, “I cannot smile if I am stuck in a crowd and people are falling on me. The media reports that I had tears in my eyes when my mother fell after a crowd jostled us in Lahore are not correct. Actually, I got worried as my mother got hurt, and a normal person feels so in such a situation... I am very happy and have no problem in smiling. If I keep smiling all the time, people will think I am mad,” she said. Angered by allegations that he had sold invitations to the walima, Shoaib said, “This is rubbish. Those alleging should get their mental status examined.”
He clarified that he had received many lucrative offers to give coverage rights for the marriage but decided not to do so. “We thought it was a happy occasion and we should not accept such an offer.” Agencies Walima wale din....
For the much-awaited walima, Shoaib was wearing a black formal suit while Sania looked gorgeous in a shimmering bluish-silver outfit. Amongst the high profile guests at the walima were Punjab governor Salman Taseer, Firdaus Ashiq Awam, federal minister of population and welfare, Gilani’s son, Qadir and famous faces from Pak glitterati.
The guestlist was of about 700 people – the who’s who of Pakistan. The Crystal Ballroom at the Pearl Continental Hotel in Lahore was done up beautifully, complete with a red carpet for the guests at the entrance.