The two were invited on a recent talk show where they were also joined by Senior journalist Owais Tauheed. During the first few minutes of the show, Abdullah addressed Qamar previously defining the term 'Feminism' as a 'Tanzeem'/ organisation.
"Feminism koi tanzeem nahi hai. Yeh eik soch hai, yeh eik fiqr hai, eik ideology, hai nazria hai. Yeh woh inqilabi nazaria jo kay samajhta hai kay aurat bhi insaan hai. ( Feminism isn't an organization, it's an idea, a revolutionary ideology that classifies a woman as a human" she said.
Further addressing Qamar's past comments around women collectively disgracing men, Tahira noted that any woman's dignity does not lie in the hands of men. Labeling it as 'mansplaining' Tahira talked about how it wasn't for men to decide as to what constitutes a good or bad woman.
"Merey haqooq kisi mard kay hath mein nahi hai. Jab mein paida kee jati hoon usi aurat sey jissey mard paida hota hai, mein apnay haqooq ley kar ati hoon apnay wajood kay ander.( My rights are not for men to give or take. When I am born from the same woman as men, my set of rights come with my sheer existence)," she said.
The activist then stated that these rights were protected by law under the constitution of Pakistan. "Hamein Insaan tasleem kia jaye, baad mein baat hogee wafa kee or haya kee. (First, accept us as humans, then talk about shame and loyalty)" Tahira concluded.
Qamar has gained notoriety over the past few months since Merey Pass Tum Ho started airing. The screenwriter has been critcised over the negative portrayal of women in the TV show and a series of misogynist comments he made in multiple public appearances.
Having said that, it is pertinent to mention that in this particular interview, Qamar did clarify that he did not consider women as a lesser gender. The writer pointed out that most of his serials, including Anokhi, Manjali, Pyare Afza, and Mein margai Shaukat Ali, portrayed women in positive light and men as the antagonists.
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