Pakistani actor Humaima Malik lends support to Pakistan's Women Protection Bill

LAHORE: She is a beautiful face with a beautiful mind. Humaima Malik, counted among the top actresses of Pakistan, is showing her concern for the atrocities against women by agreeing to be an advocate of the Punjab Government's long-deliberated Women Protection Bill that addresses issues related to the security of women in Pakistan and delegates ways in which it can be ensured. Malick is the first celebrity to be approached by the Punjab Government for such a cause.

In the wake of recent documentation and filing of cases of various kinds of violence against women, the Punjab Government felt there was a serious need for legal action to be taken against those committing heinous acts of violence. The Bill extends to violence of any kind -- from emotional to physical and recently stalking and being rude to women have also been considered a crime in the Bill worthy of punishment.

Talking about why she has become the celebrity face of the Bill, Malik says, "A time has come that everyone, not just celebrities, need to speak up. Not one day passes without news of an acid attack or incidents of rape and honour killing, most of them on women. It is appalling to see how killing women is considered so easy, and people including the parents, brothers husbands do not think twice before killing them. As a woman, I find it both offensive and sad and hence felt the need to speak up." Pent-up anger seeing such acts of violence of a daily basis was what motivated her to act. "What made my blood run white was when a 17-year-old girl was first framed into coming home and then killed by her own mother for marrying a man of her choice," says Malik. "The mother had no remorse or guilt while admitting to the crime. This was something that could not and absolutely should not be digested. And then to think that this was one incident that was reported -- many others go unreported. All this makes you lose your sleep."

Malik has often taken to the social media to voice her opinions on violence against women. She believes that fame and stardom put a great responsibility on one's shoulders in terms of looking after the society at large. She had also written against the amendments proposed by the Council of Islamic Ideology and has been very vocal in her support for all women who have achieved success through hard work. And she plans to continue her struggle for women's causes. "It's an ongoing fight and a very, very important one," says the star who is happy that "it is high time women get legal protection". Social media, she adds, is a strong weapon "and it must be used to mobilise women under the flag of fighting for protection'.