LAHORE: The Kinnaird College for Women cancelled an interactive session with playwright Khalilur Rehman Qamar after a backlash from the students.

Mr Qamar has written many famous TV plays, including Mera Naam Yousuf Hai, Sadqay Tumharay, Payaray Afzal, Main Mar Gayee Shaukat Ali, Landa Bazaar, Boota from Toba Tek Singh. Another famous play by him, Meray Paas Tum Ho, is being telecast on a private TV channel. Recently, he got into hot waters after over his interviews and controversial comments on women in a TV talk show.

Kinnaird Centre for Learning and Cultural Development had scheduled the session with him on Jan 22 (Wednesday) two days ago.

The students of the all-girls university had showed reservation on social media for Qamar’s anti-feminism remarks. The girls were of the view that university should not host an interactive session with an individual who openly insulted women.

The session also included writer and director Agha Jarar.

One of the faculty members of Kinnaird Centre for Learning and Cultural Development, on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the administration had cancelled the event after a backlash from students.

“Kinnaird has been working on women empowerment for 100 years and it can’t let someone with anti-women remarks talk in university,” the teacher told Dawn.

A spokesperson of the university said that the session was cancelled on the demand of the students.

Recently, a woman had filed a petition with a court in Lahore against Meray Paas Tum Ho and its content.

She stated in her petition that the drama was demeaning women and showing them as inferior beings in society.

Published in Dawn, January 24th, 2020