Pakistani actor and singer Atif Aslam was performing in the city of Karachi this weekend when he stopped midsong to prevent a group of men from assaulting a female attendee.
In a video posted on social media, Aslam can be seen stopping his band and reprimanding the men. His event organizers then pull the girl out of the crowd and help her find a seat elsewhere. Translated from Urdu, Aslam says, “If you all want this to be a long show, act respectfully.”
The audience went wild with applause and concertgoers and social media alike are praising the act.
Mad respect for Atif Aslam last night, stopped in middle of a song & scolded guys who were harassing the girls in the front row.
— Osama. (@ashaqeens) January 15, 2017
I like Atif Aslam now ok pic.twitter.com/NnbzT8rbHf
— r⁷ (@rsuhc) January 15, 2017
https://twitter.com/wowShreya/status/820977337495908352
https://twitter.com/debosmitagupta6/status/820931946083733505
The Human Rights Watch has reported that a rape occurs in Pakistan every hour and a gang rape occurs every two hours, making rape and sexual assault the most prevalent form of violence against women. After the murder of Qandeel Baloch last summer, Pakistan passed laws to increase sentences for both rapists and people who perform “honor killings.”
H/T Mashable
Mehak Anwar is a reporter whose work focuses on LGBTQ rights, intersectional feminism, and race. Her byline has appeared in Bustle and the Huffington Post.
