LAHORE: Imtiaz Alam, Secretary General of the South Asian Free Media Association (Safma), has sent a petition in defence of rights activist Marvi Sirmed to JUI chief Maulana Fazalur Rehman, Raza Rabbani Chairman Senate, Absar Alam Pemra chairman, IG Police Islamabad; 5. CEO and anchor of the TV channel. The petition, endorsed by hundreds of journalists, intellectuals and civil society activists, has been sent after harassment of Marvi Sirmed during a TV show by JUI-F senator. The petition said:
"It is submitted that as evident from the recording of the show that before Marvi Sirmed could respond to earlier discussant's remarks, Senator Hamadullah of JUI interrupted her and increasingly became aggressive and abusive. He used extremely foul language against the honourable rights activist and columnist. He even tried to physically attack her. But the abuses he hurled is below any ethics and civility. Blaming her for responding to his misbehaviour adds salt to the injury and represents patriarchal approach that women should submit to men's beating (light or otherwise).
"1. We request the chairman Senate to form an inquiry committee to look into the conduct of the Senator and take appropriate action to keep the prestige of upper house of our Parliament;
2. Appeal to JUI chief Mohtrum Maulana Fazalur Rehman to take a serious notice of the conduct of his party member and forcefully discourage his followers/leaders from granting religious sanction to the widespread violence against women. It's a matter of concern that JUI is now been seen as a prompter of violence against women, even if You treat your women at home with great respect;
3. Request Pemra Chief to issue a notice to the TV management regarding the violation of Pemra ethics code and give appropriate punishment to the television that preferred not to seek break while an honourable lady was being humiliated and then aired it without fully editing the objectionable content and ugly scenes;
4. The anchor and her production team and the top management should apologise on its tv to the lady and the audiences who were offended by such an ugly program for the sake of rating; it is to discourage media from not progressing from verbal rape to actual rape on the screen)
5. Request IG Police Islamabad to register an FIR against Hamadullah for harassing and physically threatening a woman and his immediate arrest;
6. Call upon the parliament to take serious cognisance of increasing crime against and humiliation of women now on the rise across the country and immediately pass the pending legislation passed by Senate against violence against women;
7. Call upon people, media and civil society to join hands against violence against women and to bring an end to gender/based discrimination against women. "
