Pakistani actress Zhalay Sarhadi has challenged the recent claims by playwright Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar, who alleged he was the victim of a honey-trapping scheme.
During a recent podcast appearance, Sarhadi discussed the leaked videos involving Qamar, where she questioned the circumstances under which the videos were made.
She pointed out that both Qamar and the accused, Aamna Arooj, claimed that the videos were made under duress with guns pointed at them, yet no such evidence of force was visible in the footage.
Sarhadi further questioned why, if Qamar was under threat, the videos were not clear and why they were shot using hidden cameras.
She argued that in typical ransom situation, the captors make straightforward videos with clear demands, unlike the blurry and clandestine footage released in Qamar's case.
She emphasised that none of the leaked videos suggested that Qamar was held at gunpoint, as claimed.
The controversy has kept Qamar in the headlines, following claims that he was targeted by a criminal gang and later released after paying ransom.
The main suspect in the case had previously stated that they possessed two videos of Qamar, each around an hour and a half long.
The suspect later leaked the footage in two parts, showing Qamar in compromising situations with a woman.
Honey-trap or blackmailing?
While playwright Khalilur Rehman claims his was ensnared in a case of honey-trap the lawyer for the woman he has accused claims it is rather a case of blackmail.
According to a statement given earlier by Amna Urooj's lawyer, Khalil began blackmailing Amna Arooj a month before the incident, claiming to possess compromising photos taken in a changing room.
Initially, Qamar's manager contacted Amna, a property dealer who also creates promotional videos and ads, under the guise of work.
However, the nature of their communication soon turned sinister, according to the lawyer. Qamar allegedly suggested that he could help Amna advance in the entertainment industry but only if she fulfilled his personal demands.
The lawyer further revealed that these interactions, including incriminating chats, are reportedly available on a mobile phone accessed by police officials, including DIG, DSP, and Investigation Officer Imran Yousuf.
Amna Arooj's lawyer asserted that Qamar had already met with her twice and then insisted on another meeting, where he allegedly arrived drunk. During this encounter, Qamar allegedly pressured Amna to engage in a physical relationship, threatening to leak the photos if she refused.
This meeting took a turn when Hasan Shah, identified as the mastermind of the alleged gang, arrived. Despite Amna's attempts to intervene, Shah warned her of dire consequences if she interfered.
The situation escalated when both Amna and Khalil were allegedly kidnapped by Hasan Shah, but Amna was not a witness to whatever transpired afterward. They were both released eventually.
After Amna's lawyer met her, she accused the police of torture, claiming that she was slapped, given electric shocks, and pressured to provide a statement declaring the incident a honey trap.
Moreover this is not the first time Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar has been in the news. Previously Qamar's comments regarding women and infidelity have caused quite a stir in the showbiz industry and the audience.
His outspoken nature and controversial statements have frequently landed him in the media spotlight, sparking debates across the country.
However, his reputation remains divisive, with ongoing debates about his influence on Pakistani culture and society.
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