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19 March 2024

Veena Malik speaks out against jail term; plans to visit Pakistan

Pakistani actress Veena Malik with businessman husband Assad Bashir Khattak in Dubai on December 25. (Twitter)

Published
By Ajanta Paul

Pakistan actress Veena Malik, her husband (Asad Bashir Khan Khattak), and the owner of the country's biggest media group (Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman), Geo TV, have been sentenced to 26 years in prison by an anti-terrorism court for allegedly airing a blasphemous programme.

After the judgment was passed Veena expressed her shock to Emirates 24|7. She said, "I am very upset, surprised and shocked. But we are going to fight our case in higher court and inshallah (God willing) everything will be alright. We strongly believe and there's no substance in the case and we are innocent."

The entire controversy erupted when Veena visited Pakistan after her wedding and was part of a morning show with husband Asad.

In May, Geo TV showed the couple dancing in a mock marriage while a group of Sufi musicians sang a devotional song.

Veena points out, "The song has been played on various other channels and we were there in a very respectful manner and there was nothing to create the whole hype.

There is a media war going on between Geo TV and other channels and unfortunately we were on the show that day and we also became part of the controversy. "

The court has ordered them to pay a fine of Rs1.3 million (Dh47,700), sell their properties and surrender their passports.

"The malicious acts of the proclaimed offenders ignited the sentiments of all the Muslims of the country and hurt the feelings, which cannot be taken lightly and there is need to strictly curb such tendency," said the court in its verdict, according to AFP.

Veena will now appeal in the Supreme Court of Pakistan against the verdict.

"I was not even present in Pakistan when the judgment was passed. I have just delivered a baby and all parties were informed that I will visit Pakistan but still the verdict was passed. But I am sure justice will be done.

"If you see the reaction of the people and circumstances you will know that things are being fabricated and created out of nothing. My lawyers are taking care of things and appeal in higher court and I am positive about things."

But nothing seems to deter Veena's willingness to travel to Pakistan.

"At the moment I can't travel because I have just delivered a baby through C-section, I had to take rest and once I am fully recovered I will surely travel to

Pakistan. Even before the verdict came I told my lawyer that I had plans to visit in December, and I will stick to my plan."

But before taking any step Veena will take advice from her lawyers, "It's not only about me now, I am someone's wife, I am a mother, I have in-laws, they are all upset and worried about things. I will discuss and see if I can travel or not but I would love to go to Pakistan. I have faith in the justice system and the whole thing will be rolled back."

Veena's husband and family are standing by her side, "My husband is as shocked as I am. Our bonding is strong and he is very supportive. My in-law, my parents, my extended family is upset about this whole thing."

Veena is baffled with the kind of controversy that attracts her, "Nobody wants unnecessary controversy in their life no matter how famous you are. It's almost a year now I am happily married, I was concentrating on my family, and with this particular controversy I am completely shocked. I am away from the limelight and want to live a happy life. To be honest I was not expecting this. You don't do anything and still get dragged into it, it's disturbing."

The judgment was handed down by a court in Gilgit, a city in the Gilgit-Baltistan region. The area is controlled by Pakistan, but its location in the Kashmir region means that India also lays claim to it. As a consequence, the verdict is unlikely to be enforced in the rest of Pakistan.

This complex situation also casts a shadow on Veena's case. The actress says, "The court is in a different constitution, they have different law, but whatever is the technicality, it is still a court that has given a verdict."

Hoping she will overcome the current crisis Veena plans to focus on other projects in her life.

"I and my husband's first priority is to help people, we have plans to build hospital in Pakistan, provide basic living conditions to the people there - like pure water, health, education and lot more."

Veena has TV shows in the pipeline but is not ready to reveal them yet but assures that “it would be very positive ones and people will appreciate them".

Veena believes her life has taken a new turn from an actress to a housewife. Motherhood has also brought a different perspective in her life.

"Things change in life, right now my priority is my family, my baby, I am a mother now."