Radio broadcaster quits after being ‘harassed’ in studio

–RJ Tehreem claims management tampered with evidence to protect culprits

–Victim’s legal counsel expresses hope that justice will prevail

LAHORE: It has been a year since the #MeToo movement transformed conversation about harassment faced by women at their workplaces across the globe. Companies, large and small, have been inspired — in some cases forced — to address this persisting problem.

Amid the continuous transformation and the government’s effort to deal with the menace of workplace harassment, radio broadcaster and TV host Tehreem Muneeba has resigned from a private radio channel after she was allegedly subjected to a similar ordeal.

As per the details, RJ Tehreem on Monday resigned after she was allegedly harassed in a recording studio two weeks ago. “Couldn’t be a part of an organisation anymore where women aren’t respected and everyone is protecting the culprits,” she said in a tweet while announcing her resignation.

She further claimed that the management, soon after she brought the incident to its notice, rather than taking action, had deleted the CCTV footage, which was the only evidence. “They’re delaying justice because they’re sure it’ll be denied. It has been more than two weeks, and even the inquiry has not been completed yet,” she said.

“I refresh my email inbox every day hoping that they would have sent me an inquiry report and told me that the culprits had at least been suspended. But no! They have no respect for the issue at hand,” she said in a subsequent tweet.

Tehreem said it didn’t have to be a rural setting to be harassed. “In modern-day, one suffers and still feels embarrassed because of complaints even in organisations such as big media house.”

“If I am suffering from this while being a TV face and having a radio presence, just imagine what other girls have to face on a daily basis. They are not even able to raise their voice on such platforms. How can others be provided justice when even my complaint is not being addressed?” Tehreem said, while also criticising the practice of “blaming the victim”.

When Pakistan Today reached out to her for a comment, Tehreem said that she was unable to speak on the matter as it was sub-judice. Stating that it was only lawful to not share any details, her legal counsel, Advocate Mudassar Nazar, said that he and his client were hopeful that justice would prevail.

It is pertinent to note that according to a survey of 300 women conducted earlier this year, sexual harassment was still present and gradually increasing in Pakistani workplaces.

61 per cent of the women surveyed said their employers did not force them to keep quiet about the harassment, but an alarming 35 per cent of the women said that they were specifically told to remain silent by their colleagues and bosses.