Pakistani showbiz industry has started calling out sexual predators

#MeToo gains momentum as insiders speak up

KARACHI: At Lahooti Melo this year, acclaimed film-maker Jami Mahmood sat on stage after one of the sessions and read out a powerful letter from an alleged 'sexual assault' victim. The festival's dedication to #MeToo movement was inspired by her story.

I remember having a candid conversation with Jami at the Lahooti Melo on February 9.

"The only solution is to speak out, to boycott these sexual predators. This can't go on like this," he told me. "This isn't just about one case. It's about a lot of cases against the same person. How are we still letting him get away with this? The only sane response I can think of is to cut them off. But believe me, unless these industry insiders expose these people, it won't end. And we will see more victims and similar cases."

PHOTO: EXPRESS TRIBUNE

Few days later the Moor director published the letter on his social media accounts which led to a lot of hue and cry. The sense of outcry, shock and surprise wasn't just limited to social media as the 'letter' and Jami's stand on it became the hot topic of industry's close circles.

The director later on announced that he and his company Azad Films will no longer work with 'sexual predators'. The announcements were followed by a series of confusing and cryptic responses by the director, where he questioned the double standards within the industry.

"Why have the few men lost their sleep in anger and are acting like the activist type? When it is your friend’s neck on the line? Why weren't you up in anger for years to find out what and how victims are surviving? Or what was the truth? Real truth? Who was stopping you all?"

Jami. PHOTO: HARRIS JAVAID/EXPRESS

He went on, "Now a young survivor hands over a note to the media and you are all loosing your minds? Why didn't you help them to come out before? Why are you part of the cyber bullying where you act all sarcastic and funny while attacking the entire movement and the victim bashing etc, while few survivors trying to put their word out to the world."

The Moor film-maker then gave his reasoning. "It's simple. You guys really thought there is no way these survivors can come out because of the cyber-bashing. No sane human would come out. No one wants to come in front of a tank," he wrote. "So you all can try to silence her, create noise about judge, executioner, jury crap but remember all you are doing is making sure that no victim should come forward."

PHOTO: HARRIS JAVAID

He also called out the accused director. "Like the way accused is not coming forward. Because he is also in shock the way his victim froze. Yes, now you know how it feels. Himmat nuhi hoti bolnai ki (It's impossible to speak out). It is a simple body mechanism. For some people, mind shuts down. Point is, now you know how she felt."

"And likh lein bhai jaan (you can write more). We are here to protect the survivors because you all were busy doing nothing. Now your activism is biased, for sale and nothing but cyber bullying," concluded Jami.

What Jami may have initiated has been picked up by other, though not so significant, stakeholders of the industry.

PHOTO: EMAN SULEMAN/INSTGRAM

Model Eman Suleman took to Instagram to call out enablers and sexual predators in the industry. "Impossibly angry at fools (especially in this entertainment industry) who provide these alleged harassers with a space which gives them further latitude, and in turn, more power and influence."

Suleman added, "Don’t you get it, even if ‘INnOcenT UnTil PrOVEn GUilty,’ you’re encouraging the disgusting, vile behaviour they’ve been accused of, and also, encouraging others to do so by demonstrating that they can get away with it without any serious repercussions."

"What the hell is wrong with all of you? No amount of money and fame is worth it. Though, this has been said many a time before, the conversation must keep on happening, over and over and over," added the model.

"I am an opinionated woman, and will remain so - you can call it a publicity stunt or whatever you want," she said.

Can we get an amen for the conversation that has started?

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