By: Raffay Sheikh
A few days ago a video was leaked online which followed Amna Riaz as she entered a house with 12 gunmen and proceeded to physically assault actress Uzma Khan. Apparently, Uzma Khan was having a sexual affair with the husband of Amna Riaz, Usman Malik. Now, this video sparked a nationwide online debate, and with all of Pakistan stuck at home everyone wanted in on this fresh drama.
The main question on everyone's mind. Who's right and who's wrong? With the initial video release, Uzma got a lot of support as humans tend to sympathize far more with the victim, though there were still many who supported the actions taken by Amna. Uzma got a ton of support online with her taking a stand and seeking legal help as well as going to the police. It was at this time when Amna Riaz's affiliation to Malik Riaz popped up. Malik Riaz is the 6th Richest man in Pakistan with a Net Worth of $1.5 Billion. All of this comes with a definite amount of political influence. Many made this issue into one about Malik Riaz and how the rich can get away with crimes even if there is plentiful evidence to support their guilt.
However, recently Amna Riaz also posted a video clarifying some of the misconceptions about what went down. The common belief was that Amna threw kerosene oil onto Uzma. In reality, it was alcohol from the drinks that Uzma was drinking. The other was that Amna broke into Uzma's house. When actually, it was Usman's other house. Which as Amna being his wife has a right to enter. Amna also claimed that the incident has nothing to do with Malik Riaz and if her word is to be taken the story simplifies to just three participants. The Husband (Usman), the Wife (Amna), and the Actress (Uzma).
Let's go through the faults with each one. Uzma had an affair with a married man. Uzma also got threats to stop her relations with Usman but chose not to act on them. Uzma's crime was an affair. Amna's crime is the most serious of all. Uzma didn't fight back. She didn't have any bodyguards. She was completely vulnerable. She was left beaten bruised and bleeding. The video clearly showed Amna repeatedly bludgeoning Uzma with a blunt solid object (it seemed to be a vase) as Uzma just shrieked and cried in pain. Though Amna was in an emotionally compromised state learning of her husband, the father of her 11-year-old child, was cheating on her with another woman. Yes, it's heartbreaking but can her actions be justified? Amna's crime was Physical Assault. Now let's come to perhaps the most guilty party of all. Someone who has dodged the public eye and inexplicably is being left out of most of the debate which chose to pit the two women against one another. This man had a wife. An 11-year-old son. He had a family. But he chose to have an extra-marital relationship with another woman. I don't support the idea that "Men need a release from the monotony of married life so it's understandable that he cheated". If you're married you stick to the marriage and don't sleep around with other women. That's the ethical and moral way to live. His crime was an extra-marital affair.
I will choose to ignore the religious argument for the case as it's quite absolute and there really isn't any argument one can make with absolute statements of black and white. Now easily I want it to be made clear that Usman is the one to blame for this whole fiasco. It's his fault that it all happened in the first place and he is a disgusting man who doesn't deserve a family. But Amna is most unjustified and wrong in her actions. There's no law permitting her to go and beat up a homewrecker even if she's been threatened there is no reason for Uzma to stop. Usman and Uzma had a consensual relationship and no matter what they did Uzma could do it as Usman was the one with obligations to his family. The view that states "the homewrecker should burn in hell" is something I completely despise. It's not Uzma's responsibility to maintain the sanctity of Usman and Amna's marriage. And given the type of man Usman is (based on his actions in this particular incidence), he would have cheated on his wife with another woman too if not Uzma. So Uzma isn't some seductress who's dead set on breaking his marriage, rather, she's a woman who got into a relationship with Usman knowing that Usman is consciously choosing to do this despite his family.
In conclusion, though morally all three members are in the wrong. Legally, action needs to be taken against Amna as instead of confronting her husband she chose to instead go and attack Uzma. Since it was filmed there is plentiful evidence for her to be charged guilty on account of the assault. Somehow the vile man who caused all this goes out scott free. But this is the world we live in and maybe it wouldn't have been this way, but Amna made a mistake by confronting Uzma instead of her husband who should have been held accountable. So, folks, these were my thoughts on the scandal that has set Pakistani social media ablaze. Thanks for reading.
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