ISLAMABAD: ‘Because we support sexual harassment of women!’ A shout that made its way to the live stream of Girls at Dhaba’s and soon in viral infamy on social media, from Kayseria’s creative director Waleed Zaman at the premiere of “Teefa In Trouble” in Lahore.
While pumping his fists in the air in a jovial fashion and armed with a smile, Zaman responded to calls of “Why are you supporting ‘Teefa’?” by women and men protesting the film’s release by poking fun at the controversy which brought them there in the first place.
Earlier this week a message was making rounds on social media, within WhatsApp and across women support groups and initiatives to protest the film “Teefa in Trouble” which was set to premiere on July 20 in Lahore, following its premiere in Karachi.
The message read as follows: “I’m not {w u} but would you go protest Ali Zafar’s premier for #TeefaInTrouble … You don’t have to do much, don’t get violent, stay even outside the cinema but just a bunch of people outside shouting some fun chants … or handwritten chart paper placards!! Tell Pakistan that there are Pakistanis who won’t tolerate these men and their attempts at glorifying rape culture while their lead actor has been alleged for sexual assault. It takes a village.’
The protest is in response to the sexual assault and harassment allegations lodged at the “Teefa in Trouble” star by fellow Pakistani entertainer Meesha Shafi.
In April this year, Shafi posted on her social media that in light of the global #MeToo movement she needed to share her own experience with Zafar. The open note she posted was met with as much support as vitriol and prompted Zafar to issue a denial and file a defamation suit against her.
Following her allegations, a handful of other women came forward as well.
The same post calling to protest was posted by Girls at Dhabas on their official Instagram account.
And gather they did.
The protest which, similarly to Karachi’s, had both men and women, boys and girls present, was a peaceful protest outside the cinema where those gathered engaged with one another and called out to people attending the premiere, asking them why they were supporting the film.
The message that was sent over Messenger, WhatsApp, and shared by a number of people on social media including Girls at Dhabas called for women and men, boys and girls, to join in a peaceful protest outside the Lahore premiere of ‘Teefa in Trouble,’ starring Ali Zafar, a day after the same protest took place outside the Karachi premiere. The protest is in direct response to multiple accusations of harassment by the actor and singer, most prominently that of fellow entertainer Meesha Shafi
In attendance at the Lahore premiere was Waleed Zaman. Many, including Girls at Dhabas, demanded that Kayseria explain its own policies for sexual harassment and provide some insight on why their creative director would make this statement.
Though Zafar himself has not responded to the protests, Kayseria posted the same post three times (matching with their social aesthetic) stating “No support for sexual harassment. Power to the WOMEN” paired with hashtags #supportwoman and #womanpower.
Zaman took to his personal Instagram account to post an apology for his words but cited his reasoning as defending his wife who he claims in his post was being “threatened, harassed and provoked by protesters.” Though the video of the incident, which was live streamed, and a number of protesters’ and witnesses’ claims contradict that statement. 
