LAHORE – Pakistani model-singer Aqsa Ali was surprised at the sexualassault allegations made by another Pakistani singer against Ali Zafar. Shefinds these allegations absurd. Defending Ali, she says he is a genuineperson and treats everyone around him with respect and honour.
Ali has categorically denied all such claims, saying he will take the legalroute to resolve the matter. Aqsa has come to his defence. “It took me bysurprise, because apparently both of them are friends and they know eachother from their university days. I myself am from the fashion industry andI have been working as a model. Now I am following my passion to be asinger as well. I don’t think these allegations make any sense, there areso many loopholes in them. I am all in for women empowerment but at leastthings should make some sense,” Aqsa told IANS in an email interview fromLahore.
Aqsa said, “When I read about ****** telling the world that Ali harassedher at a jam session, I did not want to stay quiet as I was there as wellwith everyone else in the band. Her manager and the event manager werethere as well. I was astonished, as nothing happened at all! We all havepictures, and we all were sitting together. It was a great jam session,everything was great — we also performed in Islamabad after the jam andall went really well.”
She says, “It is a serious matter, and we must be really clear oneverything and not make it sensational announcing your accusations onsocial media.”
Aqsa has known Ali on a professional level. “I have been working with Alifor a few years and been travelling with him for concerts as well. It’salways been a great experience. The exposure, the love and the learning areunconditional. I feel very comfortable while working with him and I alwayslearn something new,” said Aqsa, one of Ali’s band members.
She described Ali as a genuine person, who treats people around him nicely.“I don’t think there’s any basis to these allegations, they are prettyempty and meaningless for me. I also don’t think it is right to attack mefor speaking up and telling the truth of what I witnessed — lots of******* supporters tore down my witness testimony by saying ‘Oh, it doesn’tcount as she is Ali’s band member…’ or ‘she was asked to write this’. Mymessage to those ladies is simple: Don’t tear one woman to show yoursupport to another woman. That is really not empowerment for me.”
She feels ****** has misused a very noble #MeToo movement — which cameinto existence with an intention to raise awareness about sexualharassment. “#MeToo is a great platform. ****** attitude is known in theentertainment industry and I don’t think she really needs the #MeToomovement. She has a voice already and has never been scared to use it onanyone. I can’t comment on why she did this, but for me she misused #MeToo.”
She has a word of advice for *******. “#MeToo is a strong movement but Ithink it may be much better for the American and European people. Yes, itis to empower women, but with great power comes great responsibility… Weshould be clear on the allegations before putting up this hashtag. If wewant justice and want to empower the world, then we should understand theresponsibility of every life being affected by our words too.”