Showbiz Reporter , Daily Dawn, Dawn TV Report
Karachi: Renowned folk singer Sanam Marvi has sent a notice of damages to the President of the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi, Ahmed Shah, accusing him of abusing and threatening her during a recent concert held in Sukkur, while Ahmed Shah has denied the singer’s allegations and said that he has not received the notice yet.
The said legal notice has come after Sanam Marvi’s claim, in which she had alleged that Ahmed Shah subjected her to humiliating treatment and stopped her from performing at an event to be held at Jinnah Municipal Stadium in Sukkur on August 10.
According to the singer, she was specially invited to attend the event. The event was part of a series of concerts organized by the Sindh government on the occasion of Muarka Haq and Independence Day, in which the Arts Council cooperated.
Sanam Marvi had performed in a concert in Hyderabad on August 8 under the same series, after which she reached Sukkur, but she has claimed that an attempt was made to stop her from performing in Sukkur.
Asim Azhar, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Bilal Saeed, Young Stunners and other singers and bands were also participating in the August 10 concert. The last event of the series will be held at the National Stadium in Karachi on Wednesday night.
In the legal notice issued by Sanam Marvi on August 11, it was stated that she had agreed to attend the event, but when she tried to contact the organizers, there was no response, due to which she reached the event late.
According to the notice, she learned from ‘reliable sources’ that she was deliberately ignored to discriminate against Sanam Marvi based on being a Sindhi artist.
The singer’s notice states that the organizers deliberately did not answer her phone calls for about an hour and a half from 8:30 to 9:40 am, which delayed her arrival. The fact that she did not respond positively despite contacting her proves that she was discriminated against.
The singer wrote in the notice that she had to reach the venue through her efforts and with the help of her brothers, but she had to stand outside for an unreasonable period in front of her fellow artists and her band.
The notice accuses Ahmed Shah of pushing Sanam Marvi and ‘shouting in an aggressive and threatening tone’.
According to the notice, the Karachi Arts Council President made illegal threats, openly declared that he would not allow Sanam Marvi to step on stage and even used vulgar and insulting language towards her.
The notice states that such behavior towards a woman who has her own respect and fame, is a prominent folk singer and a national cultural icon, is shameful, has seriously damaged her honor, dignity and professional values.
The notice further states that a malicious attempt was made to humiliate the singer and obstruct her from performing her professional duties, causing her severe mental anguish, emotional distress and irreparable damage to her reputation.
Sanam Marvi has demanded a public apology from Ahmed Shah and payment of Rs 50 million in damages for loss of reputation, emotional distress and financial losses.
The notice states that if an apology is not made and the amount is not paid within seven days, civil and criminal legal action will be initiated.
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