It is absolutely disgraceful that after all of Sharmeen’s hard work, the people of Pakistan are willing to bash her.
HAWTHORNE, NJ, US: This is with reference to your report of May 24 titled “Acid survivors to sue Obaid-Chinoy”. It is absolutely disgraceful that after all of Sharmeen’s hard work, the people of Pakistan are willing to bash her at the slightest opportunity. It is appalling that we are shallow enough to not give this woman — who has bestowed so much pride on our country — a fighting chance. She is the winner of an Academy Award, so we should at least give her the courtesy of making her case before assuming that she is guilty. Sharmeen has done something truly remarkable because she has helped put Pakistan on the world map and I, for one, refuse to be drawn into this controversy. Perhaps people should do their research before taking everything at face value. It is perhaps because of this overly critical attitude of ours that for every step Pakistan takes forward, we take two steps backwards. If we can’t even appreciate and support the people who work to bring such pressing issues to public notice, we should simply keep quiet and not join the mob.
Ayesha Ali
Published in The Express Tribune, May 26th, 2012.
