Rifts within the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) became obvious at the Anti-Terrorism Court during the hearing of the Jinnah House attack case. Party chairman Imran Khan’s sisters had a chance encounter with ex-PTI leader Musarat Jamshed Cheema where they scolded her for leaving their brother in his time of need.
Imran Khan’s sisters had a conversation with Cheema in the courtroom, during which she informed Uzma Khan and Aleema Khan about the cases she faced and the hardships of hiding, upon which both of them scolded her in return. “You were hiding when our brother was in need,” Aleema said, adding that when the party was going through a tough time, Cheema held a press conference against it and when the PTI founder needed her, she left.
Aleema Khan stressed that Musarrat was considered the closest to Imran Khan and today she is telling them about the constraints.
Aleema quipped, “Politicians are considered incomplete without jail.” Musrat Jamshed Cheema reportedly went quiet after hearing Aleema Khan’s words.
The Anti-Terrorism Court has extended the interim bail of Uzma Khan and Aleema Khan in the Jinnah House attack case till March 12.
An anti-terrorism court in Lahore has accepted a petition filed by the police to declare Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s sisters and other PTI leaders ‘absconders’ for not cooperating with the ongoing investigation related to the May 9 riots cases.
Police told the court that PTI leaders are not cooperating with the investigation and are currently in hiding. According to the police, those PTI leaders are involved in the May 9 riots.
The police, therefore, pleaded with the court to declare the aforementioned individuals “absconders”.
The court has initiated the process with Aleema Khan, Uzma Khan, Aslam Iqbal, Hammad Azhar, Farrukh Habib, Murad Saeed, Zubair Niazi, Hassaan Niazi, Ali Amin Gandapur, Azam Swati, Andleeb Abbas and others named in the plea.
On the other hand, the court has also extended the judicial remand of PTI’s senior leaders, including Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Ejaz Chaudhary, and former Punjab governor Umar Sarfraz Cheema.
The court has also directed the police to submit challans against them at the next hearing.
Uzma Khan’s sister Huma Khan has submitted a petition in court in which she has cancelled the FIR lodged by Uzma Khan against Malik Riaz’s daughters, Pashmina and Amber, and niece Aamna Usman Malik.
In the application, Huma, under oath said, “I understand my welfare and upcoming future. No such occurrence has been took place. Accused party has not made any torture upon me. I sustained injuries due to fallen of glass from table.”
“The accused persons nominated in the FIR are innocent.”
In an FIR lodged on May 28, Uzma had accused Amber Malik, Pashmina Malik and Aamna Usman of barging into her house with armed guards and threatening and assaulting her. In a press conference, Uzma’s lawyer Mian Ali Ashfaq had explained that the women were guilty of three offences: trespassing, vandalism and criminal intimidation.
Earlier, Uzma’s lawyers Hassaan Khan Niazi and Khadija Siddiqui had disassociated themselves from the case and hinted that the two parties had reached a settlement.
This is to announce that we are disassociating from #UzmaKhan case.I understand the reasons of any settlement by two aggrieved women in a rigged system,my conscience doesn’t allow me to be part of any of that,even in a professional capacity. Struggle against lawlessness continues
We understand our clients’ position, they wanted to get justice but the system allows powerful aggressors to do as they please, with no accountability! I pray that a day will come when law is equal for all. Our fight for justice continues. https://t.co/FEMGZ4RWgz
While the accused have filed for pre-arrest bails, Uzma Khan has issued a statement condemning “all sort of character assassination and personal attacks on myself and anyone involved in this case, even those nominated in the FIR”.
Uzma said that her fight is legal and the “blatant maligning and mud slinging is only reflective of our society’s deep-rooted misogyny and patriarchy”.
“It is also an attempt to make me withdraw from the case,” she said, adding that she will continue to fight for justice.
The actor further said that she is “totally shattered. Probably beyond repair”, but begged her followers to “not make this a fight of women attacking other women”.
“It is in fact a symbolic reflection of how women are categorically taught to malign and blame solely other women rather than also hold men accountable.”
“This is a fight of mighty powerful against the weak and vulnerable,” she said, requesting everyone to her support her till she lasts.
Earlier, Uzma’s lawyers Khadija Siddiqui and Hassaan Khan Niazi had also urged everyone to refrain from character assassination.
Plz keep this #UzmaCase legal. It’s humble request don’t attack any female’s character. Putting videos pictures of females who have families and futures. Let’s keep this debate legal. I condemn personal attacks on Both the complainant and accused of the case.
Niazi also shared that the accused have applied for a pre-arrest bail and clarified that there has been no settlement between the two parties.
In Naya Pakistan… no one is above the Law. Although police had multiple opportunities to arrest them. However, bail is the right of accused. We will contest this bail with prayers of people of Pakistan #uzmakhanpic.twitter.com/RpQm3qY1iH
Thank you for the support. And I promise you there has been no deal dheeel or anything with my clients and malik riaz. Middle people panicking Bcz they are looking for money. This is a cause. Not a casino people. We want justice #womenRights#UzmaKhan
On May 23 (Chaand Raat) Malik Riaz’s daughters – Amber and Pashmina – along with Usman’s wife Aamna stormed into Uzma’s house with 12 gunmen where they assaulted and injured Uzma and her sister and threatened to kill them.
They vandalised the house, broke things and even attempted to sexually assault the girls by telling their armed guards to touch them. Moreso, they filmed everything including the women which is a breach of their privacy. The lawyer added that Riaz’s daughters took away all the belongings of the two sisters, including their clothes and shoes and said that they will set them on fire.
Videos of the incident went viral on social media, sparking public outrage. Uzma, in her official statement, named her perpetrators and vowed that she will stand up against their tyranny.
“I have been shamed, blackmailed, harassed, been threatened to kill in the past three days. I feel I have nothing to lose now and I have decided to fight the strongest people of Pakistan. For me, it is either I get justice or I will be killed but there is no turning back now.”
“I will fight against daughters (Amber Malik & Pashmina Malik) of Malik Riaz, who stormed into my house around midnight with 12 men,” she added.
Last week, we witnessed how power and privilege can make people go blind as they think they can break the law and get away with it.
Videos of armed guards and three women breaking and entering the house of actor Uzma Khan went viral on social media.
The three women belong to the family of all-powerful property tycoon Malik Riaz. Two are said to be his daughters while the third is related to his wife. Pakistani media, with a couple of honourable exceptions, did not even air the news.
We can well imagine why.
The clout Malik holds over those running the affairs of the state is quite evident so it is inevitable that the media, which is already going through a financial crunch, will not alienate him.
There are many angles to the story. Many in our society latched on to the ‘cheating husband’ and ‘gold digger’ narrative about Usman Malik and Uzma Khan. What they failed to acknowledge was the criminal and vile aspect of this whole incident.
Those videos were made to humiliate Uzma Khan and this is why they were released and circulated by the very women who broke the law. How can someone enter another’s house with armed guards, breaking and vandalising everything in sight, asking one of the guards to sexually assault Uzma, threatening the girls that ‘we’ will get you picked up by the ISI, throwing alcohol or some other liquid on them (we don’t know yet what exactly was thrown on them) and threatening to burn them, taking away their clothes/bags/shoes and other valuables, beating them up, breaching their privacy and much more?
Usman Malik’s wife, Aamna Usman, had the audacity to make another video where she is admitting to the crime but says she did it because she had no other choice. Well, she did have a choice: she had the choice of confronting her husband and if he did not want to end the relationship, leaving him should have been her obvious choice. And if she did not want to leave him, even then the family should have resolved the issue among themselves instead of bringing Uzma into disrepute. What Aamna Usman chose to do was not a choice. It was a decision taken because she knew she wields more power, has more money and more privilege than an actor/model in this society.
We hope that justice will be served. These three women and their armed guards should not be allowed to get away scot-free. Some say an out-of-court settlement is possible. We cannot rule it out but we would still like to say kudos to Uzma Khan and her sister Huma Khan for braving this out and standing up to privileged brats. Our society hardly ever does it. More power to Uzma and Huma!
As the public continues to express outrage against the authorities for not taking action against the attackers of Uzma Khan and her sister Huma Khan, a local court in Lahore has issued arrest warrants for those involved, including Malik Riaz’s daughters, in attacking the actor.
According to reports, a judicial magistrate in Lahore on Friday issued arrest warrants for three women – Amber Malik, Pashmina Malik and Aamna Usman Malik – who barged into Uzma’s house and attacked and assaulted her and her sister. Uzma had nominated these three women along with 15 unidentified men, who were the ladies’ private guards, in her first information report (FIR). The FIR was registered on Wednesday after Uzma lodged a complaint. The women were charged with offences of trespassing, vandalism and criminal intimidation in the FIR.
The warrants were issued after Defence C police filed an application in the Cantt Kacheri seeking arrest warrants of the three women, as all three of them have purportedly gone missing and are not responding to the police.
The judicial magistrate, in his order, noted that the investigating officer had sought the warrants on the grounds that the suspects “have intentionally concealed themselves and are avoiding” their arrest. He added that the investigation officer made efforts to apprehend the suspects but they “could not be arrested”.
Uzma and her counsel Hassaan Khan Niazi have repeatedly been urging the police to make arrests and apprehend the criminals.
Question is not where the sisters are. Question is why is police not arresting the daughter of malik riaz despite FIR in place. Police planning to remove s452. IG punjab you are not paid stooge of malik riaz. Man up officer. Raid the house and get them #UzmaKhan#ArrestAmberMalik
Latest #UzmaKhan Case: Punjab Police completely sold out.They have stopped responding me. investigating officers have disappeared.Plan is to remove s452 and not add 506B and section for sexual harassment.They haven’t applied for pre arrest and police can’t dare to raid the house
Uzma recounts the horror of the night in an interview
Meanwhile, in a recent interview, Uzma clarified the facts of the incident and her relationship with Usman Malik. Uzma revealed that she was in a relationship with Usman for two years with the promise of marriage. She said that Usman never discussed his marriage with Aamna with her and she never asked. She said that he promised that he would tell his family about her and stop working for Bahria Town in order to settle down with her. Uzma also shared that she broke up with him and changed houses because he was not making a commitment but he managed to win her back. However, Usman never fulfilled his promises.
Instead, Uzma ended up facing Usman’s family, who not only abused and attacked her physically and verbally but also asked their guards to sexually assault her and her sister. They also held the sisters at gunpoint and ordered them to confess and apologise to them. Videos of the entire incident, which according to Uzma were made by Pashmina and the women’s maid, have been widely circulated on social media. The videos, which are graphic in nature, show the women slapping Uzma and her sister, threatening them as well as glimpses of shattered glass and damaged articles in the house.
Uzma shared that for two days after the incident, she was unable to move or do anything as she was in shock.
Uzma’s counsel, Hassaan, has alleged that the videos were cropped and edited by one of Lahore’s leading PR agents Aamir Mazhar before they were released to media outlets by him.
You are next If I find one witness that you were the one who took 2lac Rs to do character assassination of #UzmaKhan#AamirMazhar – I will take you to FIA and make example of any blackmailing PR firm that is used to blackmail any girl. #UzmaTheFighterpic.twitter.com/BWMGfgJVff
Aamir Mazhar files defamation case against Uzma Khan, Hassaan Niazi
Meanwhile, Mazhar has denied all the allegations and has sent a legal notice to Uzma and Hassaan for defamation and causing professional and personal damage.
“The matter of Uzma Khan which is trending on social media is a private matter between the parties,” read the notice. “It clearly shows personal jealousy with our client. Law should be kept in mind while solving personal matters instead of involving innocent people. This is only done to damage our client’s reputation with cruel intentions.”
Mazhar has demanded a public apology and Rs 50 million in damages, adding that he promises to deposit this sum in Edhi Foundation “for the welfare of the real orphan children of Pakistan.”
“I will fight this case till I am alive,” says Uzma. “Jitni baiziti honi thi, hogayi. Money is not going to bring back my respect or honour. If I had to settle the matter and take money, I would have done that two days ago.”
Breaking down, the actor remarked that instead of apologising for their actions, the women continue to hurl accusations her way and malign her in any way they can. Uzma said that had they apologised for their actions, she might not even have registered an FIR against them.
Uzma further said that she has been receiving death threats as well and has appealed to Prime Minister Imran Khan and Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari to help her. The actor, in a video message, also shut down rumours that she had fled the country and said that she is very much here in Lahore.
After Uzma Khan was brutally assaulted and attacked by Aamna Usman Malik, a relative of property tycoon Malik Riaz, celebrities including Mahira Khan, Mehwish Hayat, Usman Mukhtar, Hania Aamir and Osman Khalid Butt have come out to support the actor and demand justice for her.
Two very different topics being argued. One is infidelity – which no one in their right mind stands for. The other is – how the powerful get away with absolutely anything! I stand for accountability always. May we all be treated equally by the law of this land. #UzmaKhan
Let’s differentiate b/w what is a moral issue & a legal issue. Two wrongs cannot make one right. The right to security at your home is a basic human right enshrined in law. This is a real test for the authorities,who need to prove to us that no one is above the law! #uzmakhan
What happened to you – the public shaming, harassment, intimidation and abuse – has shaken me to the core. I pray you find justice. https://t.co/xtrjP4F0KV
Raising a voice for two women who were verbally & physically harassed, their property & bodies violated, where there was utter contempt for law (& due process, a phrase you love to throw around when it’s a woman accusing a man of sexual harassment) ≠ endorsing infidelity.
The Patriarchal system!! Will it win over the system of Judiciary and Human rights in my country? Can just anyone trespass with gunmen and endorse vandalism? WHO IS NEXT??!?? WHERE IS SAFETY??
— Zara Noor Abbas Siddiqui (@ZaraNoorAbbas) May 27, 2020
— Zara Noor Abbas Siddiqui (@ZaraNoorAbbas) May 28, 2020
Adnan Malik
I couldn’t watch the whole video bc I felt repulsed- physical violence, sexual harassment, verbal abuse & an abhorrent sense of privilege. Its our patriarchal mindset that pits women vs women, whereas the main offender, a deceitful man-child who can’t keep it in his pants, is MIA
One after another, Malik Saheb managed institutions, individuals, organisations and systems until his might, muscle and money was taken up by a woman who decided to stand up. Bravo Uzma Khan, this ain’t just your battle. Not anymore. #JusticeForUzma
On May 23 (Chaand Raat) Malik Riaz’s daughters – Amber and Pashmina – along with Usman’s wife Aamna stormed into Uzma’s house with 12 gunmen where they assaulted and injured Uzma and her sister and threatened to kill them.
They vandalised the house, broke things and even attempted to sexually assault the girls by telling their armed guards to touch them. Moreso, they filmed everything including the women which is a breach of their privacy. The lawyer added that Riaz’s daughters took away all the belongings of the two sisters, including their clothes and shoes and said that they will set them on fire.
Videos of the incident went viral on social media, sparking public outrage. Uzma, in her official statement, named her perpetrators and vowed that she will stand up against their tyranny.
“I have been shamed, blackmailed, harassed, been threatened to kill in the past three days. I feel I have nothing to lose now and I have decided to fight the strongest people of Pakistan. For me, it is either I get justice or I will be killed but there is no turning back now.”
“I will fight against daughters (Amber Malik & Pashmina Malik) of Malik Riaz, who stormed into my house around midnight with 12 men,” she added.
Uzma Khan, who was recently attacked and assaulted by Aamna Malik, a relative of property tycoon Malik Riaz, has said that Aamna’s husband Usman wanted to marry her.
Addressing a press conference after videos of her being harassed and assaulted by Aamna along with Malik Riaz’s daughters Amber Malik and Pashmina Malik and their guards went viral on social media, Uzma shared that she was friends with Usman for two years and that his wife never reached out to her or “warned” her despite knowing that Usman had proposed marriage to her in December 2019.
“I was friends with Usman and he wanted to marry me. His wife never called me. [When] I saw her for the first time, they had a gun pointed at me,” said Uzma. Her lawyer Ali Ashfaq added that the women extracted a confession out of Uzma and her sister Huma Khan under duress.
Uzma alleged that Usman continues to call and text her and that she has saved all the evidence to present in court.
“Usman Malik is still sending me messages and I will prove in court how he has been calling me and messaging me even now,” said the actor.
Responding to Aamna’s claim that the house belonged to Usman, Uzma’s lawyer said that the house was in the name of Babar Naseem, who is also a friend of Uzma’s. He said that the sisters had rented the place and had been living there for a few years, adding that he had all the documents to prove the ownership and rental agreement,
Explaining the legalities, Ashfaq said the women are guilty of three offences: trespassing, vandalism and criminal intimidation. He said that trespassing is a non-bailable offence but no arrests have been made so far and no pre-arrest bail has been secured by Aamna or other women involved in the incident. He said that though the FIR registered criminal intimidation under Article 506 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Pakistan (CrPC), it should have been registered under Article 506-B because weapons were involved.
Uzma’s lawyers, including Hassan Niazi, thanked IG Punjab and CCPO Lahore for their support and hoped that DIG Investigations will conduct proper investigations into the matter so that justice is served. They also demanded that those guilty should be arrested without any further delay.
They also shared that their lives are under threat and that they are being harassed and requested the state and government to provide them security.
It’s a tough battle. I understand the pressure on media. But no power can beat the power of people. It’s time malik Riaz’s daughter face the wrath of Law. #UzmaKhanhttps://t.co/cbsYQQxJZs
On May 23 (Chaand Raat) Malik Riaz’s daughters – Amber and Pashmina – along with Usman’s wife Aamna stormed into Uzma’s house with 12 gunmen where they assaulted and injured Uzma and her sister and threatened to kill them.
They vandalised the house, broke things and even attempted to sexually assault the girls by telling their armed guards to touch them. Moreso, they filmed everything including the women which is a breach of their privacy. The lawyer added that Riaz’s daughters took away all the belongings of the two sisters, including their clothes and shoes and said that they will set them on fire.
Videos of the incident went viral on social media, sparking public outrage. Uzma, in her official statement, named her perpetrators and vowed that she will stand up against their tyranny.
“I have been shamed, blackmailed, harassed, been threatened to kill in the past three days. I feel I have nothing to lose now and I have decided to fight the strongest people of Pakistan. For me, it is either I get justice or I will be killed but there is no turning back now.”
“I will fight against daughters (Amber Malik & Pashmina Malik) of Malik Riaz, who stormed into my house around midnight with 12 men,” she added.
Actor Uzma Khan has accused the daughters of property tycoon Malik Riaz of assaulting and threatening her.
In a statement, the actor wrote, “I have been shamed, blackmailed, harassed, been threatened to kill in the past three days. I feel I have nothing to lose now and I have decided to fight the strongest people of Pakistan. For me, it is either I get justice or I will be killed but there is no turning back now.”
“I will fight against daughters (Amber Malik & Pashmina Malik) of Malik Riaz, who stormed into my house around midnight with 12 men,” she added.
Uzma also said that she has filed a police complaint against her alleged harassers and requested them to register her FIR and conduct her and her sister Huma Khan’s medical examination.
According to the actor’s lawyer Khadija Siddiqui, the incident took place on the eve of Chaand Raat. She shared that Malik Riaz’s daughters – Amber and Pashmina – along with Usman’s wife Amna stormed into Uzma’s house with 12 gunmen where they assaulted and injured Uzma and her sister and threatened to kill them. Amna is the daughter of Amber Malik’s husband’s brother.
They vandalised the house, broke things and even attempted to sexually assault the girls by telling their goons to touch them. Moreso, they filmed everything including the women which is a breach of their privacy. The lawyer added that Riaz’s daughters took away all the belongings of the two sisters, including their clothes and shoes and said that they will set them on fire.
“We’ve registered a complaint against Malik Riaz’s daughters but the police were not willing to register an FIR against them,” said Khadija, adding that if they are unable to register an FIR, they will take the matter up in court. Uzma’s other lawyer, Hassan Niazi also tweeted that the local police station was not willing to register the FIR and that the SP exited from the police station after asking them to wait.
We are at phase6 defence police station Police is not registering the FIR despite so many video evidence. they have no even summoned the other party as they think family of malik riaz is above the law @CcpoLahore@DIGOpsLahore@OfficialDPRPP P.P time to stand with Orphans
However, Punjab Police later clarified that legal action has been initiated against perpetrators.
Punjab Police believes in and works for the establishment of the rule of law. Nobody is above the law. Punjab police will ensure that law takes its own course. Legal action has already been initiated and will be taken to its just and logical conclusion. https://t.co/aSBGkaYpWo
— Punjab Police Official (@OfficialDPRPP) May 27, 2020
پنجاب پولیس قانون کی حکمرانی پر یقین رکھتی ہے اور قانون کی نظر میں سب برابر ہیں کوئی بھی شخص قانون سے ماورا نہیں ہے اس واقعہ میں قانونی کاروائی کا آغاز کر دیا گیا جسے شواہد اور قانون کی روشنی میں منطقی انجام تک پہنچایا جائے گا https://t.co/V73WhHHnTr
— Punjab Police Official (@OfficialDPRPP) May 27, 2020
In the subject matter, application has been received;legal action initiated; medical examination conducted;FIR is being registered. Law will take its course. https://t.co/AKicSMcX92
— DIG Operations Lahore (@digopslahore) May 27, 2020
FIR registered
Later, Hassan also shared that an FIR has been registered.
Terrible. SP @FurqanBilal039 and @DIGOpsLahore registering the weakest FIRs ever. I’m so disappointed in this system. Punjab Police whole world saw guards barging in with weapons and threatening the orphans. How are u thinking of letting the daughter of malik riaz go so easy
What happened to you – the public shaming, harassment, intimidation and abuse – has shaken me to the core. I pray you find justice. https://t.co/xtrjP4F0KV
Raising a voice for two women who were verbally & physically harassed, their property & bodies violated, where there was utter contempt for law (& due process, a phrase you love to throw around when it’s a woman accusing a man of sexual harassment) ≠ endorsing infidelity.
The Patriarchal system!! Will it win over the system of Judiciary and Human rights in my country? Can just anyone trespass with gunmen and endorse vandalism? WHO IS NEXT??!?? WHERE IS SAFETY??
— Zara Noor Abbas Siddiqui (@ZaraNoorAbbas) May 27, 2020
I couldn’t watch the whole video bc I felt repulsed- physical violence, sexual harassment, verbal abuse & an abhorrent sense of privilege. Its our patriarchal mindset that pits women vs women, whereas the main offender, a deceitful man-child who can’t keep it in his pants, is MIA
The video of Malik Riaz’s daughter asking her guards to sexually assault two women inside their home is widely circulated and no judge is taking suo moto action in Pakistan, no government official is bothered, no TV pundit pontificating over that.
SHAMEFUL SHAMEFUL SHAMEFUL Barrister Hassan niazi illegally detained by the police Thana C phase 6! His phones have been snatched by the police for insisting on Registration of FIR!! #MalikRiaz SHOWING HIS POWER. CORRUPTS ABSOLUTELY!!@HniaziISF
Meanwhile, following the incident, Malik Riaz took to social media to say that Usman was not his nephew and that he has nothing to do with the incident. While the relation between Malik Riaz and Usman is still not clear, it has been confirmed that the women attacking Uzma and her sisters in the video were indeed his daughters.
I would also like to inform that I’ll be filing defamation cases against anyone who tries to implicate me wrongfully for such disgraceful incidents. (2/2)
Usman’s wife Aamna, in a video message also shared her side of the story and asserted that Usman has no relation with Malik Riaz. She said that she repeatedly asked Uzma to stay away from her husband, but the actor paid no heed to her warnings. Aamna also said that the house where the incident took place was Usman’s and not Uzma’s.
