Mahira voices concern over misuse of #MeToo movement, delaying justice in rape

One of Pakistan's most beloved actors, Mahira Khan, on Tuesday spoke up about her stance on the revolutionary #MeToo movement, highlighting that it was neither okay to misuse the movement nor keep rape survivors waiting for justice.

While referring to the case of a college professor who committed suicide after his institute's administration failed to issue him a letter to officially absolve him of false sexual harassment allegations, Mahira said the incident had angered her.

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"It angers me that an innocent man would kill himself because of wrongly being accused," she said. However, the Raees star added that at the same time, "it boils my blood that another can raom [sic] around free after raping someone".

Mahira stressed that it was neither okay to misuse a genuine movement aimed at helping survivors of sexual abuse and harassment nor was it acceptable to keep them waiting for justice.

"Whether you misuse the #metoo movement or delay accountability on it, the result is the same -death," she added.

Earlier this week, filmmaker Jamshed Mehmood — popularly known as Jami — had come forward about his own #MeToo story, saying he has been a very strong supporter of the movement because he is a rape survivor.

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In a series of tweets, he had broken his silence on the traumas from 13 years ago, recalling how harassers get away with rape and sexual violence.

"Why I am so strongly supporting #MeToo?” Jami said. "Because, I know exactly how it happens now – inside a room, then outside courts and inside courts."

Jami, however, refrained from naming the alleged perpetrator.