Bakhtawar Bhutto, daughter of the former president, has condemned the viral doctored video from Aurat March 2021. A doctored video with blasphemous content has been making waves on social media that triggered an intense reaction from netizens all over Pakistan.
Several notable media personalities including anchorpersons shared the edited video believing it to be original, however, the organizers of Aurat March responded to the controversial video and shared the original one.
“Absolutely condemn the doctored videos of #AuratMarch done to incite hatred & endanger lives of more women. Know that it is a purposeful campaign & this pathetic, illegal (also criminal) intent to harm will not deter this beautiful & necessary movement #StopHateAgainstAuratMarch,” wrote Bakhtawar Bhutto in the tweet.
Absolutely condemn the doctored videos of #AuratMarch done to incite hatred & endanger lives of more women. Know that it is a purposeful campaign & this pathetic, illegal (also criminal) intent to harm will not deter this beautiful & necessary movement #StopHateAgainstAuratMarch
— Bakhtawar B-Zardari (@BakhtawarBZ) March 11, 2021
جھوٹ کے کوئی پاؤں نہیں ہوتے۔ جنہوں نے جھوٹے سب ٹائٹلز لگا کر ویڈیو بنائی اور شیئر کی وہ سب شرم کریں اور معافی مانگیں۔ ہونا تو یہ چاہیئے کہ ایسے تمام لوگوں کے خلاف بُہتان لگانے، جھوٹ بولنے اور شر پھیلانے پر مقدمہ درج ہو اور کاروائی کی جائے pic.twitter.com/mhdbkmkJRP
— Laiba Zainab (@Laiba_Zainab) March 11, 2021
The edited video showed women attending Aurat March in Karachi on 8th March, raising blasphemous slogans in the rally. The video had attracted immense criticism and flak from Twitter users who had questioned the credibility of the rallies organized for the rights of women.
Hence, the organizers of the Aurat March swiftly responded to the controversy as it had endangered the lives of women attending the rally.
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The team of Aurat March released its official statement on Twitter, demanded an apology for the doctored video, and called it an attempt to spread misinformation in society.
“The Aurat March faces severe backlash every year. Our videos and posters are targeted and manipulated, spreading misinformation and maligning the March. This year, one of our videos was doctored and heinous allegations are being placed on us,” the organizers tweeted on Thursday.
Here’s is the original slogan, here is our real voice 🗣
The Aurat March faces severe backlash every year. Our videos & posters are targeted & manipulated, spreading misinformation to malign the March.#AuratMarch2021#PatriarchykaPandemic#StopSpreadingFakeNews pic.twitter.com/piowxqMUEK
— Aurat March – عورت مارچ (@AuratMarchKHI) March 11, 2021
Their attempts do not and will not deter us. We will continue to organize and speak out against the violence we are subject to. We will continue to build political power and fight back. #AuratMarch2021#PatriarchykaPandemic#StopSpreadingFakeNews
— Aurat March – عورت مارچ (@AuratMarchKHI) March 11, 2021
They also posted the original video that showed how the content of the video was changed to blasphemous content. The organizers have also warned independent journalists and media houses to apologize and desist from spreading fake content.
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The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan had also condemned a deliberate attempt to discredit the movement.
The advocates of Aurat March have been voicing their opinions under the hashtag #ApologizeToAuratMarch and #StopHateAgainstAuratMarch.