Actress Uzma Khan has registered an FIR against two women, reportedly daughters of property tycoon Malik Riaz, for assaulting her as shown in recent viral videos. Uzma claims the women and her guards abused, assaulted and shamed her publicly.
Several videos of women and armed men assaulting and harassing Uzma Khan went viral on social media a day earlier. These videos have shocked civil society across a nation of 200 million. More and more details of the case began to surface as Twitter users heavily weighed in on the controversy – with several prominent members of society took up strong position that Amber Malik should be arrested. Hashtag ArrestAmberMalik has developed into a leading trend on Twitter.
House of #UzmaKhan pic.twitter.com/8jg3gmDLlJ
— Hassan (@Sufyan68093516) May 27, 2020
Uzma Khan’s position in her FIR
In her FIR Uzma Khan claims that she will fight the case to get justice. “I have been shamed, harassed, been threatened to kill in the past 3 days. I feel like I have nothing to lose now and I have decided to fight the strongest people of Pakistan,” she said in a statement. She said that either she will get justice or killed. However, she will not turn back.
“I will fight against daughters of Malik Riaz who stormed into my house around midnight with 12 gunmen.” She said she requested the police to register her FIR and conduct their medical examination before their wounds heal. She added that she hopes she is as much Pakistani as Malik Riaz. Her lawyers – especially Barrister Hassaan Khan Niazi – have however accused that Punjab police has deliberately registered a weak case.
‘I don’t need money, I need justice, I want my respect back, I was violated’ UzmaKhan#ArrestAmberMalik#ImranKhan pic.twitter.com/JTzeaYkD6c
— 🇵🇰محبوب بسمل🇹🇷 (@Mahboob07024005) May 28, 2020
What happened between Uzma Khan and Amna Usman?
Many videos of the incident show 2 women yelling at Uzma Khan and her sister. One can hear women accusing Uzma Khan of her illegitimate relations with her husband – Usman- who is the husband of Malik Riaz’s daughter Amna. Reportedly Usman is not only Malik Riaz’s son in law but is also son of his sister-in-law, though Malik Riaz in his own tweet has denied that Usman is his nephew.
The women in the videos can be seen throwing decoration pieces of glass at Uzma Khan and her sister. Reportedly, the sister of Uzma Khan suffered injuries in the incident – traces of blood can be seen on floor in the same video. Also, reportedly, the armed guards of the women harassed and groped the two girls.
As mentioned above, FIR has been registered but according to lawyers representing Uzma Khan it has been deliberately kept weak by omitting important relevant sections of law and not applying the right sections thus setting a stage for bail and easy acquittal. This is a common complaint against Police all over Pakistan. Country’s criminal justice system is heavily oriented to serve rich and powerful. Weak FIRs, incompetent prosecution and disinterested lower judiciary leads to non acquittal of apparent criminals in most cases, breeding more and more frustration against the system. In this case no arrests have been made so far.
Despite the weak FIR, we won’t give up. We have Allah and truth on our side. We wont resort to any character assassination, we’ll seek to uphold the law. We will go to court #UzmaKhan
— Hassaan Niazi (@HniaziISF) May 27, 2020
Read more: NRO style deal for Malik Riaz to stimulate the economy
The jarring videos stirred strong reactions against the business tycoon Malik Riaz and his daughters on social media. Social media erupted into a condemnation of the physical assault of actress and model Uzma Khan. A detailed discourse started on social media on the controversy. Social media users discussed the entire fiasco and gave their views on who is at fault- Amna, or the Uzma Khan. While most condemned Malik’s daughters some commentators, who joined later, also opined that Malik’s daughter has the right to react because she is saving her married life.
#UzmaKhan & #HumaKhan appeal for justice, Uzma says she was sitting Aitkaaf and #UsmanMalik came over uninvited to congratulate her on Chaand Raat & within 5 minutes #AmnaUsman and guards stormed her house, filming/humiliating them.
Lawyer @HniaziISF is representing the victims. pic.twitter.com/QGYpeSJTM1— Murtaza Ali Shah (@MurtazaViews) May 28, 2020
Most social media users demanded legal action against Amna and Amber for infraction of law and endangering the lives of people. As mentioned above hashtag, “Arrest Amber Malik” is a leading trend on Twitter. Moreover, legal counsel Hassan Niazi and Khadija Siddiqui have taken up Uzma Khan’s case. Also, Uzma Khan announced to contact her legal counsel Khadija Siddiqui and Hassan Niazi for information on the case.
Amna Usman’s position in her video
Amna Usman released her own video on social media to respond to the controversy. Her video came hours later after the original videos went viral on social media. She offered her explanation and shed the light on the events that led to the unfortunate fiasco between her and Uzma Khan.
“Firstly, I’d like to add that my husband, Usman Malik has nothing to do with Malik Riaz Hussain, he’s not a part of his immediate family.” She called these campaigns to malign Malik Riaz. Amna added that this is a personal spat between Hassaan Khan Niazi and Malik Riaz Hussain. However many on twitter are pointing that Usman is not only Malik’s son in law but also son of his sister in law.
Doesn't justify offending other women while your husband couldn't uphold his marital vows which I believe is a more serious concern. You ask me, he is the real asshole here and got off easy.
Baqi lollypop susti ha subko do#ملک_ریاض_کی_بیٹی#MALIKRIAZkibeti #UzmaKhan #HumaKhan pic.twitter.com/jutr5kNxwn— AXE – Hypnotherapist (@iamaxe_) May 28, 2020
She went on to add: “As far as barging into someone’s home is concerned, this was not their house. This was my husband’s other house which I followed him to, so, basically this was my husband’s home and I have every right to be there.” Also, she said she had repeatedly warned this girl to stay away from her husband while trying to save her 13-year-long marriage.
Read more: Malik Riaz Arrest Warrant: Property Tycoon rubbishes the Rumors
She added that she knows her husband is at the fault in the entire episode. However, she has now left him after she making many efforts to save her marriage all this time. Also, Lahore Capital City Police’s Officer Zulfikar Hameed confirmed receiving a complaint from Uzma Khan. The Police have registered an FIR following her request.
Malik Riaz reacts strongly and denies any link to this controversy
Moreover, real estate tycoon, Malik Riaz also tweeted to denounced the negative campaigns against him on media. In a series of tweets, he denied his involvement in the incident. Riaz disassociated himself from the individuals involved in the video. He asserted that Usman is not his nephew. Moreover, he categorically rejects the slanderous campaigns on social media that was maligning him. He warned of filing a defamation lawsuit against anyone who tried to associate him with such disgraceful incidents.
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)
— Malik Riaz Hussain (@MalikRiaz_) May 27, 2020
Many including the lawyers of Uzma Khan admit that Property Tycoon, Malik Riaz, has been caught unaware in a situation he had nothing to do with it. Lawyers of Uzma said that, “Malik Riaz too is a victim of this incident”. Argument is that Malik being a careful businessman who is accused of behind the scene influence paddling is not the kind of person who would encourage his family to indulge in any such act. He has been caught unaware in a situation created by the irresponsible acts of his daughters and son in law. Many point out this his son in law is also son of his sister in law.
100% right #ArrestAmberMalik#uzmankhan pic.twitter.com/EIsd7Y7HjI
— Nabeel Siddiqui (@Nabeel_ISF) May 28, 2020
According to social media users, the case is a tough test for Pakistan’s legal system. Since it concerns the family of a powerful and wealthy business tycoon and a model and actress. And they wonder, will the legal system provide due justice to individuals involved in the case. However there are additional dimensions as many believe that Malik’s daughter has the right to react in this fashion because of the extra-martial affair between her husband – Usman – and model girl, Uzma Khan. And that Amna Malik had been only trying to save her home.