Actor Hina Altaf took to Instagram to share a distressing experience involving a predator at her workplace, using the platform to call for unity among women facing similar situations.
In her Instagram story, Altaf wrote that she had come across the individual at work and acted quickly.
“I was faced with a predator disguised as a professional at work and the moment I heard that tone, I knew I wasn’t safe. I used my head, made an excuse to get back to my location, and ensured the production house took immediate action,” she wrote.
She wrote that the incident left her questioning the reality working women face in Pakistan.
“It is heartbreaking to ask if this is the cost of being a working woman or just a woman who’s breathing in this country, and it’s exhausting that ‘being smart’ has to be our primary survival mechanism rather than a basic right to feel secure,” she added.
Altaf ended her message with a direct call to action.
“We have to fight collectively against this. We cannot afford to stay silent or let these moments slide. To every woman out there trust your instincts, act fast, and demand accountability. We shouldn’t have to live this way, but until things change, we must stand together,” she wrote, signing off with “One of you, Hina.”
Altaf is not the only woman in Pakistan’s entertainment industry to speak out about workplace harassment.
In 2021, actor Mehar Bano faced harassment on set by a member of the sound crew. Saba Qamar intervened on her behalf and had the crew member removed from the project.
Bano said that it was the first time she had seen someone take such a “strong stand” against harassment for her.
The issue has also found its way into Pakistani television. The drama Case No. 9, starring Qamar as a survivor who takes her boss to court for rape, received critical acclaim for bringing the subject and its legal dimensions into Pakistani living rooms through a sensitive yet powerful portrayal.
