Grieving: Producers issue statement post attack on actors, Nabeel Qureshi's team

SeePrime details how the cast and crew's safety and its set in PIB colony was compromised

Filmmaker Nabeel Qureshi took to Twitter on Monday to announce that he and his cast and crew had been “attacked, harassed and robbed by a mob” while shooting at the PIB Colony, Jamshed Quarter Martin Road in Karachi. Actors Hira Mani, Salman Saqib Sheikh (Mani), Gul-e-Rana, Salma Zafar and multiple child actors were all present at the location when the incident took place.

Now SeePrime has released a statement detailing the occurrence, considering the shoot was being held by the local streamer for a short film. Released on its official social media handles, the statement reads, “The SeePrime team is grieving the traumatic events borne by our cast and crew during the recent attack [amidst] our shoot in Karachi. We would like to clarify any misunderstandings and address the events that took place.”

The OTT channel revealed that the team received a “noise complaint” while filming with the director, cast and three child actors. Following their effort to resolve the problem by moving the equipment to the private quarters, over 100 miscreants descended upon them in a “chaotic frenzy” to wreak havoc and cause “immense harm to both people and property.”

 

 

 

 

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They robbed those present on set, broke down doors and brutally injured several crew members, “who heroically tried to protect each other.” The statement added, “The women on set were subjected to harassment, the children were targeted and the seniors were attacked. Seven of our crew members needed urgent medical attention since they put their lives on the line to protect their colleagues.”

The platform went on to deem the incident a “tragic and sobering reminder of the vulnerability of media freedom.”

It continued, “We vehemently condemn this brutal act of violence and stand united against such atrocities. The pursuit of artistic expression should never come at the cost of human safety. The fact that the media, the voice of the people, is so susceptible to brutality is a disgrace.”

The statement further acknowledged the efforts of the forces, and the resilience of its cast and crew. “We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Pak Rangers and police force for their swift response in preventing further violence, and to our brave and resilient cast and crew, who showed remarkable courage in the face of adversity. We also express our gratitude to the media and netizens who brought responsible attention to this matter overnight.”

It closed with a call for justice. “SeePrime stands in solidarity with the people and calls for justice for our artists, crew and media. We are your voice, and we ask you to be ours. We remain steadfast in our commitment to growth and progress, and will not be deterred by this horrific attack.”

The Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad filmmaker had alerted all of his followers of the attack right after the incident took place while filing a complaint. “They got into the house we were shooting in. They harassed actresses, beat the sh*t out of the crew, stole mobiles, equipment. We are sitting here in the PIB police station. They attacked like anything. Honestly, this has never happened before in Karachi. They were armed; they stole mobiles, wallets. They did not care about the ladies; they raised their hands.”

Hira, too, took to Instagram to share the traumatic experience and urge for prayers. "It was a very unfortunate event to witness today and I wish and pray no one face that ever in their life. I want to thank my team members who fought till the last with the culprits to save us and are in very bad condition in the hospital right now. Please take a moment to pray for their speedy recovery," she wrote.

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