Shehzad Roy Backs Mehwish Hayat, Says People Waste No Opportunity To Tear Down Women

Singer and activist Shehzad Roy has come out in support of Mehwish Hayat, whose Tamgha-e-Imtiaz award stirred a controversy online."People waste no opportunity to tear down the arts and women in Pakistan. So of course, if a woman wins an award in the arts, all hell would break loose

Karachi (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th March, 2019) Singer and activist Shehzad Roy has come out in support of Mehwish Hayat, whose Tamgha-e-Imtiaz award stirred a controversy online."People waste no opportunity to tear down the arts and women in Pakistan.

So of course, if a woman wins an award in the arts, all hell would break loose," Roy tweeted."U @MehwishHayat won the debate that followed & created an enabling environment for women from arts to come forward, & when they do, trolls will think twice," the singer hit back at her haters.Mehwish Hayat, who has starred in several Pakistani blockbusters including �Punjab Nahi Jaungi', was awarded the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz on Pakistan Day, but her haters called out the actor as non-deserving of the civilian honour both leading up to and after the ceremony.Hailing Roy's tweet, Hayat called it a "watershed moment" for the industry."It is so refreshing to see that sane voices still prevail.

I think that this is a watershed moment. The industry needs to come together and fight this abuse that we are all subjected to. Let's make something good come from it," she responded.

Hayat also received backing from singer and actor Ali Zafar, who said "this reprehensible culture of name calling on Twitter has got to stop."Mehwish Hayat earlier penned a note to her haters on social media."Debate all you like whether you think I deserve the award.

Everyone is entitled to their opinions. I respect that. However, I draw the line when my character is questioned. I've been called a tawaif, a slut, a whore & much more so often that it has stopped affecting me," she wrote on Instagram."I never wanted to make this a gender thing but it is unfortunate that others seem to be.

To suggest that I slept my way to this award is an abhorrent slur on all the hard-working women in our country. We may be part of an industry that is seen to be glamorous."But it doesn't mean that we have forsaken our morals.

What gives anybody the right to drag my name into the gutter. You don't know me! Thank you to all the supporters and also to all the haters, it has only made me stronger. Last couple weeks have been quite an eye-opener for me," Hayat said.