Pakistani singer and actor Meesha Shafi on Thursday accused actor Ali Zafar of sexually harassing her on several occasions, the latest in a growing string of such charges in the conservative country.
The 36-year old mother of two, who made her film debut in Mira Nair’s The Reluctant Fundamentalist, took to Twitter to share her experiences.
Shafi said in a note that she was sharing her story because she feels speaking about such issues will break the culture of silence among Pakistani women. Zafar told the Pakistani media he did not want to speak on the issue at the moment.
Shafi wrote in her note, “I have been subjected to sexual harassment of a physical nature at the hands of a colleague from my industry: Ali Zafar. These incidences did not happen when I was young or just entering the industry. This happened to be despite the fact that I am an empowered, accomplished woman who is known for speaking her mind! This happened to me as a mother of two children.”
Here’s her whole letter:
Sharing this because I believe that by speaking out about my own experience of sexual harassment, I will break the culture of silence that permeates through our society. It is not easy to speak out.. but it is harder to stay silent. My conscience will not allow it anymore #MeToo pic.twitter.com/iwex7e1NLZ
— Meesha Shafi (@itsmeeshashafi) April 19, 2018
Zafar is a popular singer who has worked with Shafi on several songs and advertisements. He has also appeared in Bollywood films such as Tere Bin Laden and Kill Dil.
Social media was largely supportive of Shafi and praised her for her bravery.
The fashion editor of Dawn newspaper, Hamna Zubair, tweeted in support of Shafi: “This is possibly the first instance of a Pakistani entertainer publicly calling out a peer for sexual misconduct. Prior to this, in Pakistan’s small, interconnected arts community rumours of misconduct floated around only through whisper networks.”
Shafi told Dawn newspaper her husband was the first person she had told about the harassment. Referring to her anxiety about coming forward, she added: “It shouldn’t be this difficult to speak out when one is in the right. As parents, we tell our children to speak up if somebody touches them inappropriately and that it is never their fault. So why is it this hard to do the same?”
“I’m doing this not only for myself, but also for people who might be watching me, especially young women, who have the right to enter any professional or communal space without fearing harassment.”
Shafi’s mother, actor Saba Hamid, supported her daughter’s decision to speak publicly. Hamid told Dawn: “I am totally behind my daughter and I support her. I’m hurt and angry and I feel very strongly about this.”