- Junaid Akram denies all allegations of harassment
Social media star and comedian Junaid Akram is the latest to be swept under the expanding #MeToo wave which has taken Pakistan and India by storm as two female fans have stepped forward and accused him of sexually harassing them, claims he has categorically denied.
According to reports, in one instance, a fan contacted Akram after which they started chatting.
The accuser said, “Out of nowhere, he said, ‘I want to see you’, to which I replied, ‘Yes sure, whenever you are in the country’, as he was not in Pakistan at the time. He then said, ‘No, I want to see you now, if you know what I mean’.”
She added she didn’t know what to say to him, so blocked him instead.
Another girl accused Akram of lying about his marital status.
Meanwhile another said, “He cheated on his wife and kept me in the dark. He started flirting with me and sending me inappropriate messages. Since I wanted to invite him (to my university) I didn’t refuse and he asked me to ‘strip’ on video call. I resisted and he blackmailed me that he would inform my family so I removed my shirt. He insisted me to remove more of my clothing but then my sister entered the room and saw me crying.”
Taking to social media, Akram denied all such claims of sexual harassment, maintaining that he has not harassed anyone and all such claims are false, adding that he is consulting his legal team on the matter.
“I have already met my legal team, and the wheels have already been set in motion to bring to book those who are trying to hurt me and people associated with me,” he wrote on Twitter.
In relation to this, I have already met my legal team, and the wheels have already been set in motion to bring to book those who are trying to hurt me and people associated with me. God bless.
— Puffin Man (@junaidakram83) October 11, 2018
Akram went on to say, “My marital status is public information. I have spoken about it in my Facebook and YouTube videos.”
Meanwhile, news anchor Rana Anum had also tweeted that “several young girls are speaking out against the sexual harassment attempts by a known social media guy and comedian,” while several people on Twitter pointed their fingers at the comedian.
Last time I spoke up against Junaid Akram on Twitter based on a friend’s experience, women were on the verge of burning me alive while trying to defend him. Toxic toxic toxic https://t.co/7l2ZEedCgG
— bezariba. (@aribbae_) October 9, 2018
Amid the claims of sexual harassment, Shehzad Ghias, another stand-up comedian, has announced that he will not perform at any show where Akram is invited.
How to not respond to the #metoo movement
All the comments so far on the Dawn story
Based on everything I have seen, as a comedian I would categorically ustate that I will not perform at any show where Junaid Akram is invited. #WeBelieveSurvivors pic.twitter.com/A2rUdMrxRx
— Shehzad Ghias (@Shehzad89) October 11, 2018
