Dawn CEO Hameed Haroon Threatens to Sue Jami

Things are getting ugly.

By Suleman Saleem | 4:00 pm | Dec 31, 2019
Jami and Hameed

The #Metoo movement has proven to be a deterrent against the rising cases of sexual harassment and sexual assault in societies the. Its primary purpose is to empower women and men through empathy.

The hashtag is widely used to help reveal the extent of problems with sexual harassment and assault by showing how many people have experienced these same events themselves.

It has enabled people who cannot speak for themselves to find a voice and combat against the ugly head of sexual abuse.

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The emergence of #Metoo in Pakistan

#Metoo made its earth-shattering appearance in Pakistan, with Meesha Shafi utilizing the hashtag with full force.

She accused her colleague, Ali Zafar of sexual harassment, back in 2018. This lead to a whirlwind of discussions and further accusations opening up in the entertainment industry.

Since then, the #Metoo movement in Pakistan has been at a standstill, That is until a new case emerged.

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Jami and #Metoo

Filmmaker Jamshed Mahmood Raza has added new momentum to Pakistan’s #Metoo movement after airing allegations of being raped by a powerful media tycoon.

That tycoon in question is none other than Dawn’s CEO Hameed Haroon who is alleged of raping Jami.

 

Celebrity support

Meesha Shafi strongly supported Jami’s stance on #Metoo.

In an interview, Jami describes in vivid detail about his horrid experiences.

I just hated myself. If I had been willing even slightly I would have let it continue…I had ‘given up my honour’, so let’s continue to play. I think he was in love with me. He kept saying how beautiful I was.

I kept saying ‘no’ as it happened. I kept saying ‘stop’. I still remember what I thought. I knew that was the end of me. It’s not that he thought I was into men. With people like him it’s about power. Even if you weren’t interested, he’d have his way. I’m so powerful, so sophisticated, so well-educated. You’ll do my bidding. He could see I didn’t want to sit near him, hug him. I don’t like to hug anyone. Men, women, anyone.

And then finally, he revealed his alleged rapist,

https://twitter.com/azadjami1/status/1210933914497404928

In response, the CEO of Dawn Hameed Haroon released a statement.

“I am initiating legal action to clear my name and reputation, and to safeguard the freedom of the press by bringing to justice all those responsible for these false and malicious allegations against me,”

Full statement by Hameed Haroon

The following statement has been issued by Hameed Haroon:

“For some three months now, tweets in the social media and some print media, some of which have been authored or prompted by Jami Raza, have alleged that Jami was subjected to rape many years ago but was ‘coming out’ only now because the rapist was an ‘influential and powerful media personality’. Hitherto fore, strangely the alleged rapist was never specifically named, even though hints and innuendos were dropped from time to time that could be taken as suggesting that it was the CEO of Dawn, Hameed Haroon. “But since I had not been specifically named in the tweets, I was advised, that even though I had a fair idea of who was prompting Jami Raza, I should exercise restraint until I was specifically named. On 28th December, Jami Raza specifically named me and it has, therefore, become necessary to respond.

“At the outset, I reiterate my commitment to come to the aid and support of victims of rape, sexual assault and harassment. I unequivocally condemn such dastardly acts whenever and wherever these occur and in whatever shape or form and whether they occur at the workplace or outside. I have always demonstrated sympathy and support for all rape, sexual assault, and harassment victims regardless of whether the perpetrator is powerful or not.

“In the same breath, I am conscious that false and malicious allegations are sometimes leveled by powerful groups to serve their own social and political agendas with the calculated motive of destroying the reputation and dignity of a person and thereby to shatter one’s credibility for collateral purposes.

“I categorically deny the allegation of rape leveled against me by Jami Raza. The story is simply untrue and intentionally fabricated at the instance of those who wish to silence me and through me, to compel the newspaper that I represent to support their repressive narrative.

“I first met Jami Raza when he was a freelance photographer and aspiring filmmaker in the 1990s or the early 2000s, which was the time that Jami had produced photographs of the Sir Jehangir Kothari bandstand for the purposes of architectural documentation and conservation. Impressed with Jami’s work, I enlisted him in 2003-04 to collaborate with me on a photo essay in the catalogue of the Sadequain exhibition at the Mohatta Palace Museum. I do recall going to his house sometime thereafter to condole on his father’s death but was unable to personally meet him. I do not recall ever being alone with Jami Raza. This has been the sum total of my interaction with Jami.

“I am convinced that the false and malicious allegation has been leveled at the instigation of powerful interests in the state and society who, for their own motives and the promotion of their own repressive narrative, wish to destroy my credibility and as a consequence thereof, the credibility of the newspaper group that I am associated with. It is not a mere coincidence that this particular tweet comes at a time when groups are being organized to demonstrate against Dawn and mysterious wall chalking is appearing, with both demanding the hanging of Dawn’s CEO and also its editorial staff.

“I am determined to expose those behind these false and malicious allegations and pledge to keep aloft the banner of fair and accurate reporting without fear or favor. So far as the tweets and some newspaper reports are concerned, I am initiating legal action to clear my name and reputation, and to safeguard the freedom of the press by bringing to justice all those responsible for these false and malicious allegations against me.”

Jami’s response

In response, Jami has released his own statement on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/azadjami1/status/1211682042490085376

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