ISLAMABAD: The chief executive of one of Pakistan’s most influential newspapers has denied accusations he raped an acclaimed filmmaker, in a case that has spotlighted sexual abuse targeting men and added momentum to the country’s fledgling #MeToo movement.
Director Jamshed Mahmood Raza took to social media over the weekend to allege that Dawn newspaper’s Hameed Haroon raped him 13 years ago.
In October, Raza first described the assault publicly on Twitter but referred to the alleged perpetrator as a “powerful person in our media world.”
Haroon — who hails from one of Pakistan’s wealthiest and most influential families — issued a fierce denial in Dawn, the country’s most popular English daily, late Monday, calling the accusations “simply untrue and intentionally fabricated.”
“I categorically deny the allegation of rape leveled against me,” said Haroon in a statement.
Raza later slammed Haroon’s comments, saying the statement was “nothing but a slap to all us survivors.”
The allegations have again stirred controversy in the deeply conservative country, where most discussions about sex and abuse are considered taboo.
Some voices have called for accountability, while others dismissed notions of male-on-male sexual assault.
“I have a question: how can a grown man be raped by another individual? Couldn’t they have fought him off,” tweeted writer Salman Rashid.
Others disagreed.
“Rape is not only about physical power; it is about power in general. If a powerful person coerces you to have sex with them, that is rape,” wrote Nida Kirmani on Twitter.
The #MeToo and #Timesup campaigns have gone global since allegations of sexual misconduct by Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein were made in 2017, sparking an avalanche of accusations against other powerful men.
However, the movement has been slow to catch on in Pakistan, where women have fought for their rights for years in a patriarchal society where so-called “honor” killings and attacks on women remain commonplace.
Cases and allegations involving men assaulting other men have been even more rarely discussed in the country.
Pakistani media mogul rejects rape accusations by filmmaker
https://arab.news/6pbku
Pakistani media mogul rejects rape accusations by filmmaker
- Filmmaker alleges Dawn newspaper’s Hameed Haroon raped him 13 years ago
- Haroon dissed the allegations as “simply untrue and intentionally fabricated“
Pakistan PM condoles death of Saudi Prince Mishaal bin Badr’s mother
- Saudi prince’s mother passed away on Saturday, drawing condolences from Pakistan, Qatar, other states
- Pakistan, Saudi Arabia who enjoy close cooperation in defense, economic, trade, investment and other sectors
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday expressed his condolences to the Saudi royal family over the recent passing of Prince Mishaal bin Badr bin Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
The Saudi Royal Court announced the death of Prince Mishaal bin Badr’s mother on Saturday. Her funeral prayers were held a day later, at the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Grand Mosque in Riyadh after Asr prayers.
“I extend my heartfelt condolences to the Royal Family on the passing of the mother of Prince Mishaal bin Badr bin Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Saud,” Sharif wrote on social media platform X.
He prayed for the highest rank in paradise for the departed and hoped the royal family would be able to bear the loss with fortitude.
“Our prayers are with the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, and the entire Royal Family in this moment of profound grief,” Sharif added.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are close allies that cooperate in several sectors such as defense, trade, investment, tourism, agriculture, mines and minerals and others. The two countries signed a landmark defense pact in September, according to which both agreed to treat an attack on one country as an attack against both of them.
Apart from being a vital trade ally, Saudi Arabia also serves as the top source for foreign remittances for Pakistan, where over 2 million expatriates reside.
