LAHORE: Pakistani actress Mariyam Nafees and singer Hasan Raheem have voiced their opinions regarding the recent assault on a young salesman in Lahore. Both revealed that the two girls involved are known to them, with one being a close friend of Nafees.
Clarifications from Hasan Raheem
Taking to his Instagram story, Hasan Raheem aimed to clarify the situation by sharing insights gathered from those present during the incident. He stated, “These girls are not the daughters of a lawyer, and this has been confirmed by multiple sources.”
Raheem further explained that the altercation began when the salesman allegedly made inappropriate remarks towards the girls, referring to them as “prostitutes on night duty.” He noted, “You can see him passing a remark and then smirking in the video as well.”
When confronted about his comments, the salesman reportedly retaliated with further abuse. Raheem acknowledged that while the girls should not have resorted to physical violence and should have contacted the police instead, they are now facing severe backlash, including death threats from random individuals. He urged the public to avoid jumping to conclusions without understanding the full context, emphasising the ease with which blame is often misplaced.
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Mariyam Nafees’ statement
Mariyam Nafees also addressed the incident, confirming her familiarity with the girls involved. “After seeing the CCTV footage, everyone is wondering why these girls assaulted the salesman. I want to clarify that I know both of these girls very well, and one of them is a very good friend of mine,” she said.
Nafees corroborated Raheem’s account, adding that the salesman made derogatory remarks about the women’s bodies. She highlighted that both girls have since received rape and murder threats, prompting her to speak out against the harassment. “We live in a society where evidence of harassment against women is demanded, and it’s often women who ask for this proof,” Nafees remarked.
She called upon the store owner to release the voice recording from the CCTV footage to reveal the truth behind the incident.
Ongoing investigation
The incident, captured on CCTV and widely shared on social media, shows the girls holding coffee mugs at the shop’s cash counter. They appear to become angry with the young cashier and subsequently enter the counter area to assault him.
Authorities are currently investigating the incident to ascertain the facts and determine the appropriate course of action.
Don’t know what happened?
The incident, which occurred on July 7 at a local Tuck shop, initially saw Yusuf accused of harassment by three women. The confrontation escalated when two of the women assaulted Yusuf, leading to his arrest and a case being registered against him. The altercation gained widespread attention after a video of the incident went viral, showing the women attacking Yusuf.
Iqbal, the cashier at the Tuck shop, has since reconciled with the assailants, but Yusuf remains resolute in seeking justice. Despite his request, the police have not yet filed a case against the women. Determined to ensure accountability, Yusuf, accompanied by his lawyers, plans to approach the court today to register a formal complaint.
Later, in an interview, Yusuf refused to settle the matter and is determined to pursue legal action.
