Acclaimed filmmaker Jamshed Mahmood Raza, popularly known as Jami, has finally come out with the name of his alleged rapist. Previously in October, the award-winning filmmaker had created a stir over social media when he took to Twitter to share a harrowing account of being allegedly raped by a “media tycoon.” Jami had mentioned that the incident took place 13 years back in Karachi, at the home of the accused perpetrator.
Now, in a tweet posted late Saturday night, Jami stated “Yes HAMEED HAROON Raped me. I’m ready now. Are you ready to print this @dawn_com.”
Yes HAMEED HAROON Raped me. Im ready now. R u ready to print this @dawn_com ?
— Jami raza (@azadjami1) December 28, 2019
Jami posted the incriminating tweet from the @azadjami1 account. From the same account, he also posted tweets saying his original Twitter account, @jamiazaad had been hacked.
For verification purposes, Galaxy Lollywood reached out to Jami, and the Moor director confirmed via text that @azadjami1 was indeed his account and shared a screenshot of the tweet which alleges Dawn’s CEO Hameed Haroon to be the rapist.
A painful ordeal
Earlier in November, Jami mentioned that he had shared the details among his friends about the alleged incident and the perpetrator he held responsible, however, no one stood by his side. “On my buddies from the TV commercial industry — not a single one privately or overtly came out in support. The Gang, the guy gang all vanished. Make-up artists, the directors, the producers, wardrobe icons no one. Only a few who believe in truth came out like Maheen Khan and Mehreen Jabbar,” he lamented.
On my buddies from TV commercial Industry- not a single one privately or overtly came out in support. The Gang the guy Gang all vanished. Makeup artists The Directors the Producers wardrobe icons no one. Only few who believe in truth came out like @Maheenkhanpk @mehreenjabbar &
— jami (@jamiazaad) November 22, 2019
He further added he only chose to make his ordeal public after the #MeToo movement in the country started to be discredited following the suicide of a university professor facing a rape allegation. After going public, the Operation 021 filmmaker mentioned in several tweets that the journalist community was protecting “its own,” but that he was not going to give up the fight to bring the alleged culprit to the book.
I wont give up. U few powerful protecting rapists by not touching the story no matter what are accomplice. U all r part of the circle which is protecting him by not speaking out and now even mocking victims i heard by saying there is no name. #metoo https://t.co/Glc7XWmZ8g
— jami (@jamiazaad) November 21, 2019
Describing his painful ordeal and how it affected him professionally in an interview, he said “(After the rape) my life was finished. I had been married for just two years. My work was affected. I’d get into fights. I’d start to scream…My brain doesn’t seem to function. It takes so much energy to focus on a film. I can’t focus. It takes me years to finish a film. People make a film in four months. Moor took five years. O21 took three years. Jugnu, a Sindhi film, has already taken two and a half years.”
Urges others to speak out
The filmmaker, being a staunch supporter of the #MeToo movement, also urged others like him to come out and share their stories.”Got (to) know that THERE ARE MORE SURVIVORS OUT THERE! Whoever is silent is part of the assault,” he said in a tweet, insinuating that the alleged rapist had targetted many more victims, who he was now imploring to come out publicly and talk about their horrific experiences.
Got know that THERE ARE MORE SURVIVORS OUT THERE! Who ever is silent is part of the assault.
— jami (@jamiazaad) November 11, 2019
Final word
Whether Jami’s public disclosure about the alleged perpetrator will bring forward stories of more rape survivors is something we are likely to find out in the coming few days. However, for now, the country needs to do some serious soul searching how to deal with horrific incidents of rape in a way that holds the culprits accountable and protects the victims.
