Model and actress Uzma Khan formally filed an FIR on Thursday against a group of women and their gunmen who barged into her home in Lahore and allegedly physically and verbally assaulted her and her sister, Huma Khan. Uzma and her lawyers have claimed that the women involved in the incident are the daughters of real estate tycoon, Malik Riaz while Malik Riaz himself has denied being associated with the matter in any way.
The incident, which actually happened on 23rd May, went viral on social media when a video featuring the two sisters started circulating on Wednesday morning. Later, the actress released an official statement in which she claimed that she has been “shamed, harassed, and threatened in the past 3 days.”
“I have been shamed, harassed, been threatened to kill in the past 3 days. I feel like I have nothing to lose now and I have decided to fight the strongest people of Pakistan,” she said in a statement. “For me it is either I get justice or I get killed but there will be no turning back now.”
“I will fight against daughters (Amber Malik and Pashmina Malik) of Malik Riaz who stormed into my house around midnight with 12 gunmen. I request the police to register my FIR and conduct me and my sister’s medical examination before our wounds start to heal. I hope I am as much Pakistani as Malik Riaz.”
This is my official statement – Remember your gunmen pointed their guns towards two orphans and sexually harassed. We might be weak but now we have faith in Allah and people of Pakistan. I request you to share my statement and standby me in my difficult times. #uzmakhan pic.twitter.com/0QNgBUlTRb
— Uzma Khan (@uzmaaaK) May 27, 2020
In a viral video of the alleged incident, Uzma and her sister Huma can be seen being threatened by a woman, who is accusing the actor of having an affair with a person named Usman. In another video, the woman and a few men can be seen assaulting the two sisters.
This ‘aunty’ is constantly asking security guard to touch her that if she sleeps with him, too. Openly committing perpetual sexual harassment, another crime. Disgusting, just disgusting! pic.twitter.com/hsy0g0kkwE
— Sameena E. (@SameenaERana) May 27, 2020
Omg! This is a pure breach of privacy, home invasion, alleged assault to death and how men were battering a helpless woman. Horrible!!! Screaming illegal on its face everywhere, I won’t justify Uzma Khan’s doing but this needs to be dragged to courts. pic.twitter.com/9JMXFnEc6p
— Sameena E. (@SameenaERana) May 27, 2020
House of #UzmaKhan pic.twitter.com/8jg3gmDLlJ
— Sufyan (@Sufyan68093516) May 27, 2020
Uzma also shared her police complaint on social media, and requested that authorities concerned should immediately conduct a medical examination of her and her sister.
Malik Riaz, however, has rubbished all these allegations, claiming that he is not related to Usman and has called it an attempt to malign him. “I categorically rebut this malicious propaganda associating me with a viral video. Usman is not my nephew. I’m appalled at such below the belt attempt to malign me for something I’m not involved in any capacity,†he tweeted.
I categorically rebut this malicious propaganda associating me with a viral video.Usman is not my nephew.I’m appalled at such below the belt attempt to malign me for something I’m not involved in any capacity. (1/2)
— Malik Riaz Hussain (@MalikRiaz_) May 27, 2020
I would also like to inform that I’ll be filing defamation cases against anyone who tries to implicate me wrongfully for such disgraceful incidents. (2/2)
— Malik Riaz Hussain (@MalikRiaz_) May 27, 2020
Soon after Uzma’s statement surfaced, Amna Usman, who says she is Usman’s wife, also released a video statement, claiming that her husband is not a part of Malik Riaz’s immediate family.
“Firstly, I’d like to add that my husband, Usman Malik has nothing to do with Malik Riaz Hussain, he’s not a part of his immediate family. This is being done to malign Malik Riaz; this is a personal spat between Hassaan Khan Niazi (Uzma’s lawyer) and Malik Riaz Hussain.”
She went on to add: “As far as barging into someone’s home is concerned, this was not their house. This was my husband’s other house which I followed him to so basically I have every right to be there. I repeatedly warned this girl to save my 13-year-long marriage. This was not the first time I approached her.”
She also added that she is aware that her husband is to be blamed the most in this scenario and she has already left him.
Usman Malik’s wife Amna Usman
Part – 2 #UzmaKhan #usman pic.twitter.com/qAbmA0Z4EZ— Shiffa Z. Yousafzai (@Shiffa_ZY) May 27, 2020
Here is the FIR that has been registered in Uzma Khan’s case:
Plz atleast crosscheck these sections. You yourself with burn this weak FIR. We want you to standby against the most powerful and we all know you can #UzmaKhan https://t.co/yJYMdCvOyE
— Hassaan Niazi (@HniaziISF) May 28, 2020
This FIR that has been registered is completely bogus. Unacceptable. Clearly shows there was immense pressure of Malik Riaz on Punjab Police. This lollipop was given due to public pressure. The fight for justice continues and NO COMPROMISE will take place inshallah #UzmaKhan pic.twitter.com/G4hsVcIqDZ
— Uzma Khan (@uzmaaaK) May 27, 2020
Press Conference
Uzma held a press conference earlier today (Thursday) to share her side of the story. Lawyer Mian Ali Ashfaq was representing Uzma Khan and Huma Khan as well as barrister Hassaan Niazi who is allegedly blamed by Amna Usman in a video in which she claimed that Hassaan Niazi is trying to use this situation for his personal gains. Mian Ali Ashraf clarified that they will file an FIR against her baseless claims under the Prevention of Cyber Crime Act.
Further, the lawyer also said that Amna’s claim that the said house belonged to her husband is bogus. He said he will be providing proof of the rental agreement to the police which is signed by Uzma’s friend Babar Nasim who is not at all related to Usman or his family.
“Forcefully trespassing inside a property is a non-bailable offence with a punishment o f 7 years in prison. Threatening with violence and intent to harm with arms is another non-bailable offence with 10 years imprisonment. Amna has accepted in her video that she barged into the house as she claimed it is her husband’s house and you can see the violence and threats in the video as well. Both these crimes are punishable but so far no arrests have been made,” Mian Ashfaq said.
Uzma also revealed that she and Usman were friends since two years but they were not on talking terms since December 2019. “His family is also aware of it and I have evidence to prove that Usman was constantly contacting me after December 2019. He proposed to me and I denied. Amna or anyone else in her family has never contacted me before 23rd May (the day of the incident). Usman is still calling and texting me and I will give evidence in court,” Uzma shared.
Mian Ashfaq also said that his clients have no personal issue with Malik Riaz but he is not directly involved in the incident. “I believe Malik Riaz is also a victim in this case as his daughters Amber and Pashmina Malik were part of the crime and we have named them in the FIR. His influence and power is being used to threaten my clients,” he said.
He also requested immediate security for Uzma and Huma Khan and an impartial investigation along with immediate arrest of those involved in the crime.
You can watch the press conference here:
Reactions
So far a few celebrities have raised their voices and spoken against this violence and invasion of privacy.
Raising a voice for two women who were verbally & physically harassed, their property & bodies violated, where there was utter contempt for law (& due process, a phrase you love to throw around when it’s a woman accusing a man of sexual harassment) ≠endorsing infidelity.
— Osman Khalid Butt (@aClockworkObi) May 27, 2020
The Patriarchal system!! Will it win over the system of Judiciary and Human rights in my country? Can just anyone trespass with gunmen and endorse vandalism? WHO IS NEXT??!?? WHERE IS SAFETY??
— Zara Noor Abbas Siddiqui (@ZaraNoorAbbas) May 27, 2020
I couldn’t watch the whole video bc I felt repulsed- physical violence, sexual harassment, verbal abuse & an abhorrent sense of privilege. Its our patriarchal mindset that pits women vs women, whereas the main offender, a deceitful man-child who can’t keep it in his pants, is MIA
— adnanmalik (@adnanmalik) May 27, 2020
Two very different topics being argued. One is infidelity – which no one in their right mind stands for. The other is – how the powerful get away with absolutely anything! I stand for accountability always. May we all be treated equally by the law of this land. #UzmaKhan
— Mahira Khan (@TheMahiraKhan) May 28, 2020
