Tag: harrasment

  • Millie Bobby Brown lodged harassment complaint against Stranger Things co-star David Harbour: reports

    Millie Bobby Brown lodged harassment complaint against Stranger Things co-star David Harbour: reports

    Hollywood star Millie Bobby Brown has reportedly lodged a complaint against her ‘Stranger Things’ co-star David Harbour, accusing him of bullying and harassment during the filming of the fifth and final season of the hit Netflix series.

    According to foreign media reports, Brown filed a formal report with Netflix prior to the commencement of filming of the much-awaited final season, outlining multiple allegations that triggered an internal investigation lasting several months. 

    The results of the inquiry have not yet been disclosed and insiders were quoted as saying that the complaint did not pertain to sexual misconduct.

    Netflix has chosen not to provide any comments regarding the situation. However, reports indicate that the streaming service conducted its own investigation while moving forward with the preparations for the last season’s release.

    Brown, who plays the character Eleven, was reportedly accompanied by a personal representative during production.

    Harbour, portraying Sheriff Jim Hopper since the show’s debut in 2016, has not publicly addressed the allegations.

    This situation arises at a pivotal moment for Netflix, as it prepares to unveil the show’s final season in three installments with the first set to premiere on November 26, followed by additional episodes on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve. 

    Outside of filming, Harbour’s personal affairs have also garnered attention. His ex-wife, singer-songwriter Lily Allen, recently released an album titled ‘West End Girl’, which delves into themes of betrayal and heartbreak.

    The project, influenced by her four-year marriage to Harbour, features lyrics that fans have connected to their relationship that ended last year.

    As Netflix approaches the conclusion of one of its most successful franchises, the off-screen developments involving two of its leading actors have attracted considerable public interest prior to the finale’s release.

  • ‘It’s not about clothes’: Ayesha Omar lashes out after burka-clad woman harassed in Sheikhupura

    ‘It’s not about clothes’: Ayesha Omar lashes out after burka-clad woman harassed in Sheikhupura

    Ayesha Omar has always been outspoken on misogyny and victim-blaming. The beloved Bulbulay star reignited the debate over victim-blaming and harassment after a shocking incident in Sheikhupura, where a burka-clad school teacher was harassed on the street by a man.

     

    Disturbing CCTV footage of the incident has once again laid bare the pervasive nature of harassment that women face, regardless of what they wear.

     

    Taking to Instagram Stories, Omar addressed the moral policing often directed at women for their choice of clothing. “So it is really not clothes, is it? It’s just our existence. And their lack of control,” she wrote, highlighting how harassment stems not from attire but from deep-rooted misogyny and a lack of accountability.

     

    The incident occurred in Sheikhupura, Punjab, where CCTV footage showed a man walking closely behind a woman in a full burka before moving beside her and touching her inappropriately. The woman was left visibly shocked, while the suspect fled the scene immediately after the assault.

     

    The Punjab Police swiftly identified and arrested the suspect, earning public praise for their prompt action.

     

    The case has since sparked widespread outrage, with many social media users echoing Ayesha Omar’s sentiment that harassment is a reflection of the perpetrator’s mindset, not the victim’s clothing or behavior.

     

    Women in Pakistan continue to face harassment in public spaces, irrespective of how they dress or where they are.

  • ‘Girls need financial independence’; Faysal Quraishi on women taking breaks from work

    ‘Girls need financial independence’; Faysal Quraishi on women taking breaks from work

    It’s no secret that the entertainment industry is a cutthroat place, especially for women. In a recent interview, veteran Pakistani actor Faysal Quraishi shed light on why many female actors in the entertainment industry take extended breaks from their careers. He pointed to the disproportionate burden of family responsibilities and societal expectations as key reasons behind the pauses.

    Addressing a commonly asked question about why men tend to work longer in the industry than women, Quraishi said: “Women usually take on more household and childcare responsibilities. Girls need security and, of course, financial independence too,” he explained. “Look at Sunita Marshall and her husband Hassan, they are working as equals while raising their children well. Javeria Saud took a break to focus on her family and later returned to acting. Savera Nadeem also stepped away from the screen for some time before making a comeback. Many actresses take such breaks due to the responsibilities placed on them after marriage.”

    When asked if he would be supportive of his wife choosing to work, Quraishi responded candidly: “I don’t stop anyone from working. It’s their choice and they are the decision-makers of their own lives. If someone comes to me for advice, I can present two options, but if they’ve already made a decision, I respect that. I never pressure my wife about anything, and I don’t think anyone should. A healthy relationship is built on mutual respect and freedom.”

    Speaking about his latest drama Case No. 9, the actor praised writer and journalist Shahzeb Khanzada for crafting a bold and meaningful story.

    “Shahzeb has written a brilliant script and worked very hard. He even underwent neck treatment during the process but completed the script. A good drama or film is shaped by the producer, who brings the right team together,” he said.

    Quraishi also addressed the often-taboo topic of workplace harassment faced by women, especially in conservative households where simply getting permission to work can be challenging.

    “If a girl faces harassment at work, like being called into an office unnecessarily, many stay silent out of fear. They’re worried they’ll lose their job, which they may have gotten after great difficulty. But these small incidents can snowball into bigger issues later,” he emphasized.

    He went on to say: “Families must support their daughters. If they face such situations, it’s critical they speak up. Either leave the job or take a stand against the harasser. But they should not suffer in silence.”

    He stressed the need for awareness and communication at home, stating, “Nothing helps more than knowing your family stands with you.”

    Ending on a note of optimism about his upcoming drama, Quraishi said, “Audiences will be surprised by plot developments. There are characters and themes in Case No. 9 that have never been explored in the Pakistani industry before and they are necessary.”

  • Court hands six-year term to man for blackmail through fake Facebook accounts

    Court hands six-year term to man for blackmail through fake Facebook accounts

    A judicial magistrate in Karachi has sentenced a man to six years in prison for creating fake Facebook accounts in his friend’s name and misusing them to share inappropriate photographs after she rejected his proposal to get engaged. 

    Judicial Magistrate (East) Yusra Ashfaq convicted Abdullah Saleem under Sections 20 (Dignity of a Natural Person), 21 (Modesty of a Natural Person and Minor) and 24 (Cyberstalking) of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) 2016, awarding him two years’ imprisonment for each offence.


    “It is clear that the prosecution has successfully proven the charge against the accused. The prosecution has demonstrated that the accused tarnished the dignity of the complainant and her family, violated the complaint’s modesty, display videos without her consent, and displayed them publicly,” the court observed.

    According to the ruling, Abdullah Saleem’s actions were motivated by resentment and frustration after the complainant’s family turned down a formal engagement because of his anger issues. 

    State prosecutor Sheraz Rajpar claims that the complainant stated in her testimony that she had previously been friends with the man but broke up due to his inappropriate behavior.

     In order to blackmail her and her family, he later made fake Facebook profiles in her name and posted her personal pictures.

    The complainant further stated that the “accused admitted to being behind those accounts and threatened her that she would never be able to marry anyone else, even going so far as to say he would force her to commit suicide.” 


    Sheraz added that her testimony was corroborated by a verification report, screenshots, IP logs, WhatsApp records and a detailed forensic report. He said that during the inquiry, the accused handed over his phone to investigators, and a forensic examination confirmed that the “fake accounts and transmissions were linked to the accused’s number and IP address.” 

    The court denied the accused’s defense, pointing out that he had not presented sufficient evidence to back up his claims of false implication and denial of the charges.

    The case had been filed under Sections 20, 21, and 24 of PECA at the Cyber Crime Cell of the Federal Investigation Agency.

  • Bahawalpur university lecturer arrested for alleged harassment, bribery

    Bahawalpur university lecturer arrested for alleged harassment, bribery

    A visiting lecturer at the Islamia University of Bahawalpur (IUB) has been arrested following allegations of attempted sexual harassment and bribery, according to a complaint filed by a female student from the IT department.

    The FIR, registered at Baghdadul Jadeed Police Station, states that the accused, Ahmed Mahmood, called the student to his residence under the pretence of helping her improve her English paper marks from 40 to 85.

    He allegedly attempted to harass her at his home and demanded Rs50,000. The student raised an alarm, prompting the lecturer to flee through the back door.

    The incident was first reported to the Chairperson of IUB’s anti-harassment committee, who then escalated the matter to Vice Chancellor Professor Kamran.

    The university responded by terminating the lecturer’s contract and barring him from entering the campus.

    “The university will fully cooperate with the police in the investigation,” said the vice chancellor.

    The accused has been taken into custody, and police have initiated a formal investigation.

  • ‘I was harassed by a famous director, but I won’t name him yet’: Nadia Jamil’s shocking revelation

    ‘I was harassed by a famous director, but I won’t name him yet’: Nadia Jamil’s shocking revelation

    Nadia Jamil, a veteran actress in the entertainment industry, has revealed that she faced harassment from a prominent Pakistani director. Her brave choice to share her story is likely to encourage others to come forward and seek support.
     
    Recently, Nadia Jamil appeared on Iffat Omar’s show ‘Say It All With Iffat Omar.’ During the interview, she talked about being harassed by a well-known director.
     
    Nadia Jamil said, “I’m very careful about the projects I take on and the people I work with. I’ve been harassed by a famous director in the past, and I’m not willing to put myself in a situation that could be dangerous or uncomfortable. Recently, Naumaan Ijaz (Nomi Bhai) approached me about working on a project, but when I found out that ‘that guy’ was involved, I immediately said no. I just didn’t think it was worth the risk.”


    She went on to say, “I haven’t revealed his name yet, but I believe many girls must have experienced harassment from him. I’m waiting for the right time because I want my sons to grow older. Right now, they’re still too young to handle a situation like this wisely because they’re just angry young boys.”


    During the show, Iffat Omar also shared her perspective on the difficulty of addressing such situations. She said, “I can’t talk about such situations even if they happen for real because they send me court notices.”
     
    Nadia Jamil worked in drama serials such as ‘Jo Bichar Gaey’, ‘Durre Shehwar’, and ‘Damsa, Meray Paas Paas’. Nadia is currently starring in ‘Khushbo Mein Basay Khat.’

  • Meesha Shafi wins initial defamation case against ARY UK

    Meesha Shafi wins initial defamation case against ARY UK

    A High Court in the United Kingdom has found that New Vision TV, the broadcaster of ARY UK, has defamed singer Meesha Shafi in a December 2020 broadcast.


    The broadcast was aired by ARY UK on December 5, 2020, in which reports were presented by newsreaders and on tickers as evidence.


    In a preliminary hearing, the court found out that the channel had deliberately made defamatory remarks by implying that Meesha was failing to comply with court orders over two years and that the channel depicted Shafi as “someone who does not comply with legal requirements laid down by a court and engages in such behaviour repeatedly”.


    The channel is now required to submit its defence to the court by January 26, 2024.


    “Such an assertion would have the tendency of lowering the claimant [Ms Shafi] in the estimation of right-thinking people generally; it is contrary to the common shared values of our society for people to deliberately ignore court orders requiring them to attend court, and to do so repeatedly over an extended period…The claimant is a very high-profile Pakistani celebrity who has taken a leading role in the advancement of women’s rights, holding herself out as an example to society. Given the claimant’s standing, the words complained of are likely to have a seriously adverse impact on the way the claimant is treated, thus satisfying the seriousness threshold,” the court asserted.


    The court examined the evidence in the broadcast, which said: “She [Ms Shafi] came to Pakistan, did her work and left. Singer Meesha Shafi threw the court orders to the winds. She came to Pakistan, recorded a song, and then returned to Canada. She did not present herself in court. Ali Zafar has filed a defamation lawsuit against Meesha.”

    In 2018, Ms Shafi accused singer and actor Ali Zafar of sexual harassment, in what was thought to be the first #MeToo moment in Pakistan.

  • Sarah murder case: Shah Nawaz tried to tamper with evidence, broke mobile phones

    Sarah murder case: Shah Nawaz tried to tamper with evidence, broke mobile phones

    Shah Nawaz Amir, the main suspect in the murder of his wife Sarah Inam, had allegedly sought to tamper with the evidence, police reports released on Sunday have revealed.

    Six mobile phones were reportedly found at the crime site, five of which belonged to Shah Nawaz and one of which was registered in the victim’s name, according to the police.

    The accused used dumbbells, the murder weapon, to smash both his own and his wife’s phones in order to wipe the data, according to the police.

    Police have taken senior journalist Ayaz Amir in custody after obtaining arrest warrants for him and his former wife in the murder case. However, his wife have not been arrested yet.

    Sameen, the mother of Prime accused Shah Nawaz, and the wife of renowned political analyst Ayaz Amir, in a petition filed with an Islamabad sessions court has said that she has no link with the murder. Offering details of the grisly incident, she has stated that her son had sent her a message on Whatsapp to arrange his wife’s rukhsati by speaking to the her father just one night before the crime.

    She further said that Shah Nawaz called her on her mobile phone at 9:12 am the following day to inform her about the incident.
    “The petitioner asked Shahnawaz to sit in her room and Ayaz … had called the police and within a few minutes, the police had arrived and took custody of Shahnawaz,” she said in the plea.


    The petition stated that Sameena then rushed to Shah Nawaz’s room but by the time she got there, her daughter-in-law had passed away.

    Sarah’s murder rocked Islamabad on Friday morning, as news of the crime spread across social media and news networks.
    It has been reported that after murdering her, Shahnawaz dumped her body in a bathtub.

  • Traffic warden arrested for secretly making TikToks of women

    Traffic warden arrested for secretly making TikToks of women

    A traffic warden has been arrested in Lahore for filming TikTok videos of females on roads during his duty hours.

    The traffic warden used to make videos of female passengers without their consent. The arrested police officer also used to show his face in the videos.

    In view of the inquiry report, departmental action will be taken against the traffic warden.

  • Fawad proposes committee with leaders from coalition govt and PTI to probe Gill’s ‘torture’

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry on Saturday (August 20) proposed the formation of a committee comprising Federal Railways and Aviation Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, and PTI leader Dr Shireen Mazari — to investigate the “torture” of Dr Shahbaz Gill.

    “They will also not be blamed for being pro-PTI,” Fawad tweeted.

    “These people have a point of view on torture, which is independent of their parties’ narrative […] hence, they should be given the responsibility of inquiring the events,” he said.

    The PTI has alleged that Gill was tortured in custody and was sexually abused.

    On Friday, Khan said in a series of tweets said, “All the pictures and videos show clearly Gill was tortured both mentally and physically, including sexual abuse — most too gruesome to relate.”

    Talking to media persons outside the capital’s Police Lines Headquarters today, Chaudhry asserted that physical or mental torture won’t be allowed under any circumstances.

    “I personally believe […] and this is not my party’s demand but mine […] that an independent panel should be formed and the torture should be investigated. And then the faces of those who tortured [Gill] and those who passed its orders should be brought forward in public,” he said, requesting the Supreme Court to take notice of the incident.