Yes, all men: Celebs disgusted, ashamed and furious after Minar-e-Pakistan incident

A mob of 400 men harassed and assaulted a woman in Lahore’s Greater Iqbal Park on Independence Day. The victim has stated in her complaint lodged with the Lari Adda police station that she was filming a video near Minar-e-Pakistan on August 14 along with her friends, whom she visited the site with, when a mob of around 400 people attacked them.

While detailing the graphics of the assault, the woman indicated that the mob picked her up and tossed her around. “I was stripped and my clothes were torn apart,” she said, adding that she cried for help but no one came to her rescue. While her gold ornaments, cash and mobile phone were also snatched in the process.

The police have launched a search for the accused after registering a FIR, First Information Report but many on Twitter, including a trove of celebrities; have lost complete faith in humanity. Many have dubbed the incident as the last straw, claiming this proves that if 400 men can be complicit in assaulting a woman in broad daylight than none can be trusted, debunking the #NotAllMen argument entirely.

“I can’t believe what I just saw! I’ve said it before and I will say it again – make an example out of these men!” wrote Mahira Khan sternly. In another tweet, she continued sarcastically, “Damn, I’m sorry, I keep forgetting – it was HER fault! Poor 400 men, they couldn’t help it.”

Actor, rapper Ahmed Ali Butt also shared the Minar e Pakistan illustration on his Instagram Stories and wrote, "Truly heartbreaking incident which took place at the most iconic monument, shame on us indeed."

Actor Mansha Pasha added, "What they will say: Pakistan is an Islamic Republic and Madina ki riyasat. What is the reality: Woman molested by 400 men at Minare Pakistan on Independence Day during Azaan. We preach religion and patriotism here but we follow hedionism and barbarism."

In a follow-up tweet, the Laal Kabootar actor continued, "This whole drama of why was she there and what was she wearing is getting really old and noone is buying it anymore. Sahi se eik hi dafa bol do, we dont want to do anything to protect women and we want to keep stripping you of dignity because we can. Also no more of, 'Islam gives women all the rights.' Unfortunately most here dont follow even Islam's basic tenants of human decency but know how to preach it to others like an Islamic scholar."

Actor and singer Farhan Saeed also tweeted, "Disgusted, furious, heartbroken and ashamed, ashamed of being a man today. [I am] ashamed that the men of this country keep doing these horrible acts every other day, ashamed that the law of my country does not hang these predators so that this doesn't happen again!"

Osman Khalid Butt added, "Another day, another incident, another moment we find ourselves collectively hanging our heads in shame. Action, not just condemnation, bring the perpetrators to justice."

Actor and producer Adnan Siddiqui urged, "Now that we hav a plethora of evidence of what unfolded at #minarepakistan Can we finally see our police in action by putting those men responsible for this gruesome act behind the bars? Is this too much to ask for our women? #400men #lahoreincident #needanswers #protectourwomen"

Anoushey Ashraf chimed in, "Not all men, just 8482929293949392 of them. If you agree re-tweet. If you disagree, unfollow me."

Actor Imran Abbas added, "Disgusted, petrified, ashamed and speechless.. Quaid-e-Azam! We are sorry.”

Zahid Ahmed continued with disappointment, "I’ve been mulling over what to write after this mob groping video surfaced on the net today from Minar-e-Pakistan. Kahan reh gya hamara adab, ihteram, shirafat, haya? Kaise 400 admion ne 1 aurat ko mazak bana dia? Ye kon log hain jin ki haiwaniat khatam he nahi hoti?"

Television personality Aamir Liaquat, however, tweeted after having ‘conversed’ with the Prime Minister Imran Khan. "Just spoke to the PM Imran Khan regarding Minare Pakistan Incident, Imran Khan is sad and angry over the Lahore incident. Ayesha will get justice soon InShaAllah."

Actor Mawra Hocane, who rarely takes to the micro-blogging site, also tweeted, "I want to hear what the 'not all men' brigade has to say this time! Hope this incident is dreadful enough to open your eyes… At least this time there will be no judgement about the girl and how she could have avoided the situation! [I’m] extremely disgusted and disturbed!”

Vlogger Shaheer Jaffery commented on the incident and its response in a series of Twitter threads as well. "Just saw a few comments on the video with people (mostly men) saying stuff like 'acha hua'. The truth is, it doesn’t matter what the educated Twitter class thinks or says. The majority of people are just trolls and would see what happened as 'just'!

He added, "We’d defend our sisters and daughters to the point that we can lay our lives for them. However, some random girl passing by is an opportunity to harass. There’s a disconnect in empathy. In feeling for another human. We don’t care much about each other. There was a time when I went to a mall with my friends. We were 5 boys. Upon arriving at the main gate, we were denied entry. Turned out boys only weren’t allowed. I was angry and offended. However, today, I understand why. We were a threat back then and we remain a threat now!"

Narrating the incident, Jaffery added, "The girl screams for help as she’s groped by hundreds of men. There is Azaan going on in the background. I’m finding it hard to wrap my head around that scenario."

PPP representative Aseefa Bhutto Zardari also tweeted, "We cannot continue to bury our heads in the sand. Pakistan is not safe. Not for our women. Not for our children. Our children aren’t safe from rape even in death. This is the disgusting shameful reality."

In a similar incident in June, an elderly woman was subjected to torture and sexual assault by influential people in Punjab’s Mazaffargarh to avenge her son’s love marriage.

According to police, the incident took place within the limits of Alipur Police Station in Fatehpur, where Nasir's in-laws, who were enraged over his love marriage to their daughter, kidnapped, tortured and tried to rape his mother.

The accused not only tortured the 50-year-old woman but also tore down her clothes, dragged her and burned her half-naked body with cigarette butts.

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