ISLAMABAD – The Federal police on Thursday have arrested two men who were accused of harassing a Canada-based model during her recent visit to Pakistan.
The accused were arrested by police and identified by the complainant. Asoomii Jay alias Assma Galuta, known for her humanitarian work, is currently visiting the country to raise awareness about social injustices including Islamophobia.
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She said that she was in an area on the confluence of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, waiting for her cab to go home when two men pulled up in a car and started cat-calling her and repeatedly told her to get in their car on Monday. When she refused, they followed her cab for the next two hours as she travelled to her destination in Islamabad.
A video she made of the men showed them trying to intercept her car and asking the driver for her destination. She had posted the video on the internet and it went viral.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhqkj83J3PE
Sharing her experience on Youtube, Asoomii stressed upon the negligence of the local media by stating that ” Where was media when I was showing the beauty of Pakistan culture? Where was media when I was speaking up about the issues I have had with elite and government corruption? And I am not here to speak FOR the Pakistani women, I acknowledge my privilege of having had my story become viral, and hope that my story can inspire women to keep speaking up and my message to those women in Pakistan who have had their cases go unreported, know that I stand with them in solidarity and I will not let any man abuse us into silence.”
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She further added that “And for those apologizing on behalf on Pakistan, DONT! I would never paint an entire nation based on the action of 1 person, but thank you for your support. I am thankful for the support of the many Pakistani men who have been supporting us women, but its such a shame that media has completely twisted the story and made it into a gossip tabloid, rather than tackle the issue of women not being taken seriously. “
Later, Islamabad Police IGP Amir Zulfiqar Khan took notice of the incident and directed to arrest the culprits after the video got circulated on the social media.
A first information report (FIR) of the incident was registered at Sihala police station with charges of attempting to illegally confine, criminally intimidate and assault.
The police sources had also stated that the car used by the suspects was registered to a Lahore resident and that their team will soon be sent to the Punjab capital to apprehend the suspects.
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