Shocked by the verdict in Pakistan: Veena Malik on blasphemy charges

Actress Veena Malik is in a state of shock after a Pakistani court sentenced her and husband Asad Bashir Khan to 26 years in prison for alleged profanity.
Speaking to us from her home in Dubai, Veena admitted that while she knew of the existence of the case, she was “never troubled by the charges” as she and Asad had done no wrong.

Reliving the episode that landed her in trouble, Veena said, “My husband and I had been invited on a show on GEO TV. Mind you, we were just guests on the show where the religious qawwalli was being played. That same qawwalli is played on numerous other shows. We showed no disrespect. I may have come across as a liberated, uninhibited person through my past conduct, but that doesn’t mean I don’t know how to respect my religion.”

Veena also denied that she and her husband danced to the qawwali. “The honourable court says there is a close-up of me during the holy qawwalli. Shooting close-ups of artistes during television shows is the cameraman’s concern. How are my husband and I to blame for this?” she asked.

She also claimed she is shocked by the vehemence of the attack on her. “Normally there’s one FIR filed in a case. In my case, there are at least 100 FIRs all over Pakistan. I know I’ve admirers and well-wishers all over the world. So this kind of attention at home is nothing new to me. Lekin yeh kuch zyada ho gaya.”

Veena sees the harsh punishment as a reaction to the backlash against GEO TV in her country. “There has been a campaign to bring them down. My husband and I are caught in the crossfire of a media war,” she said, adding that Asad and she would be heading to Pakistan to appeal against the decision in a higher court.

“I am going to Pakistan in December to fight this crisis. I’ve been contributing to charitable causes in Pakistan since I was 14. I’ve always been a good daughter to Pakistan. Now please let me be a good mother to my son,” Veena said.