Actor Veena Malik is not happy with “Aurat March” saying it is “nothing more than a spectacle.”
This year’s Aurat March saw women from all walks of life gathering at different venues throughout the country, marching for their rights. Raising a voice for the oppressed, hundreds of women from different localities of the port city Karachi assembled near Mazar-e-Quaid, amid tight security, to celebrate the Aurat March. The activists also raised a voice against discrimination, harassment, as well as social, political and economic biases against women. They demanded that the government treat women and men equally.
Women around the country have lauded Aurat March’s untiring efforts to raise voices against oppressed women. But Veena has a different view.
In an interview with a local magazine, she said there are a lot of issues women face and those are serious issues.
“But what I feel is that Aurat March is not working on issues that are imperative but are focusing on issues that aren’t helping women out at all. They [Aurat March] will probably attract controversy. They are not serious.”
She went on to add: “Women do [face] serious issues. There are so many women who face severe health problems during maternity, childbirth. They should speak about pay parity and rally for equal pay to their male counterparts. There are so many other topics where they should speak out for women’s rights and play their role.”
Veena said “you can help change constitutions. But you know what? When you are not serious, you go out on the streets and scream in the out. When you are serious, you go, get into the systems and change the laws which could help people. Those who only make noise, rarely get anything done.”
It is, however, pertinent to point out that Aurat March has actively advocated for the same issues Malik has pointed out in her statement.
