Mustafa Zahid writes apology addressed to all women

Singer Mustafa Zahid recently took to Instagram to share a note in response to the ongoing femicide in Pakistan. The actor started off by apologising to women for the way patriarchal violence has affected them. He wrote, “To all the women of my country... I’m ashamed, I’m angry and I’m sorry. I’m sorry because there is nothing more I can do at this point than tell you all that we men have collectively let you down over and over again.”

“We should have stood up when the first hand was raised on you, instead we decided to look the other way because we felt it was your personal matter. We noticed violent men among us but we chose to ignore them because we felt it wouldn’t hurt us. What we forgot was that these men who think they are so privileged that they can get away with hurting women will tomorrow turn into monsters,” he continued. 

Zahid went on with a call to action addressed to men, urging them to speak up and utilise their privilege to protect the women around them. “This has to stop at the very first point itself which is hurling abuses at women or even making them insecure with the way you look at them,” wrote the singer.

“Let’s promise ourselves that we will not hesitate to call such men out when we see them around us,” he shared. Zahid urged people to speak up regardless of their relationship with the abuser. “No friendship or relationship is worth more than a human life,” he wrote. The singer concluded his note with a prayer for Noor Mukadam and her family. “I hope and pray that Noor Mukadam finds peace up in heavens and I pray that Allah gives strength to her parents to bear this pain.”