Uzma Khan wants men to be held accountable for their actions

While the accused have filed for pre-arrest bails, Uzma Khan has issued a statement condemning “all sort of character assassination and personal attacks on myself and anyone involved in this case, even those nominated in the FIR”.

Read more – Uzma Khan case: All the latest updates

Uzma said that her fight is legal and the “blatant maligning and mud slinging is only reflective of our society’s deep-rooted misogyny and patriarchy”.

“It is also an attempt to make me withdraw from the case,” she said, adding that she will continue to fight for justice.

The actor further said that she is “totally shattered. Probably beyond repair”, but begged her followers to “not make this a fight of women attacking other women”.

“It is in fact a symbolic reflection of how women are categorically taught to malign and blame solely other women rather than also hold men accountable.”

“This is a fight of mighty powerful against the weak and vulnerable,” she said, requesting everyone to her support her till she lasts.

Read more – Power and privilege trumps all?

Earlier, Uzma’s lawyers Khadija Siddiqui and Hassaan Khan Niazi had also urged everyone to refrain from character assassination.

Plz keep this #UzmaCase legal. It’s humble request don’t attack any female’s character. Putting videos pictures of females who have families and futures. Let’s keep this debate legal. I condemn personal attacks on Both the complainant and accused of the case.

— Hassaan Niazi (@HniaziISF) May 31, 2020

یہ ہم گنہگار عورتیں ہیں
جو اہلِ جبہّ کی تمکنت سے نہ رعب کھائیں
نہ جان بیچیں
نہ سر جھکائیں
نہ ہاتھ جوڑیں

Please refrain from character assassination, dont stoop so low. #UzmaKhan

— khadija siddiqi (@khadijasid751) May 31, 2020

Niazi also shared that the accused have applied for a pre-arrest bail and clarified that there has been no settlement between the two parties.

In Naya Pakistan… no one is above the Law. Although police had multiple opportunities to arrest them. However, bail is the right of accused. We will contest this bail with prayers of people of Pakistan #uzmakhan pic.twitter.com/RpQm3qY1iH

— Hassaan Niazi (@HniaziISF) June 1, 2020

Thank you for the support. And I promise you there has been no deal dheeel or anything with my clients and malik riaz. Middle people panicking Bcz they are looking for money. This is a cause. Not a casino people. We want justice #womenRights #UzmaKhan

— Hassaan Niazi (@HniaziISF) May 30, 2020

False

— Hassaan Niazi (@HniaziISF) May 31, 2020

THE INCIDENT

On May 23 (Chaand Raat) Malik Riaz’s daughters – Amber and Pashmina – along with Usman’s wife Aamna stormed into Uzma’s house with 12 gunmen where they assaulted and injured Uzma and her sister and threatened to kill them.

They vandalised the house, broke things and even attempted to sexually assault the girls by telling their armed guards to touch them. Moreso, they filmed everything including the women which is a breach of their privacy. The lawyer added that Riaz’s daughters took away all the belongings of the two sisters, including their clothes and shoes and said that they will set them on fire.

Videos of the incident went viral on social media, sparking public outrage. Uzma, in her official statement, named her perpetrators and vowed that she will stand up against their tyranny.

“I have been shamed, blackmailed, harassed, been threatened to kill in the past three days. I feel I have nothing to lose now and I have decided to fight the strongest people of Pakistan. For me, it is either I get justice or I will be killed but there is no turning back now.”

“I will fight against daughters (Amber Malik & Pashmina Malik) of Malik Riaz, who stormed into my house around midnight with 12 men,” she added.