We want to highlight how Jaisay Aapki Marzi is showcasing glimpses of what the family of real abusers’ are like and the consequences they contribute to while protecting their loved ones. *This article might be triggering for some.*
Jaisay Aapki Marzi has continued to offer us glimpses of how the victims of domestic abusers spiral and suffer at the hands of their partners The latest episodes of the Pakistani drama highlighted and represented another important factor of abuse: the explicit or implicit support of family members in facilitating and shielding the abuser’s behavior, whether they be emotional, physical, or mental.
While the drama may have fallen short in accurately capturing real-life impact at times, it unequivocally conveyed a significant message through Shaina’s story. Shaina now struggles with her mental health, relying heavily on medications and prescribed drugs to cope with the trauma inflicted by Sherry, highlighting the long lasting suffering endured by victims.
Natasha & Hamdani Sahib’s Implicit & Explicit Support To Sherry
The way Natasha and Sherry’s father have assisted, covered up, and protected his abusive tactics, his past, and his actions mirrors real-life situations where families protect abusers and contribute to the victim’s suffering. Their involvement and support exacerbate the impact on the victim, tightening the grip of abuse around their lives even further. As a sister, Natasha explicitly, loudly, and confidently supports her brother, eliminating even the slightest chance of guilt or remorse Sherry could feel.
She consistently reassures him that he has “done nothing wrong” and repeatedly reminds him (almost like an anthem), to remember how he is Shehryar Hamdani, the most notable businessman. Similarly, his father bears equal responsibility, actively concealing Sherry’s past from Aleezay and her parents. He continues to keep her in the dark, masking Sherry’s actions in the name of love and, even when Shaina resurfaces, denies her existence right to the end.
This protection from family members makes abuse an even darker circumstance in reality. Here are 3 recent cases of abuse and murders Pakistani men have committed that serve as real life examples of family members protecting, aiding and abetting in abuse:
Noor Mukkadam Murdered By Zahir Jaffar
Zahir Jaffer, the 30-year-old son of an influential family and a dual Pakistan-US national tortured and killed his friend, Noor Mukkadam – the daughter of a former ambassador and a Pakistani diplomat.
Jaffer’s parents, Asmat Adamjee Jaffer and Zakir Jaffer, the directors of one of the oldest trading and project management companies in the country, were also arrested on charges of concealing evidence and abetment, according to the police report. Her cause of death was stated as Murder by decapitation. Zahir was later also charged with premeditated murder, rape, abduction and confinement.
Zakir Jaffer and Asmat Adamjee, parents of Zahir Jaffer, along with two members of their household staff, were apprehended by Islamabad police on July 24 for charges related to “concealing evidence and involvement in the crime”.
Sarah Inam Beaten To Death By Husband, Shahnawaz Amir
Sarah Inam, a 37-year-old economist, had wed Shahnawaz around three months prior to being murdered in cold blood by her husband at his mother’s home in Islamabad. The murder took place a day after Inam had returned from Abu Dhabi where she worked. Shahnawaz confessed that he had repeatedly hit his wife with a dumbbell during an argument and then hid her body in the bathtub.
Based on information from the police, the accused did not inform Sara about his two additional, previous marriages and, as a drug addict, would request money from her. Additionally, sources mentioned that Shahnawaz deceptively registered a car recently purchased by Sara in his own name. Samina Shah, the mother of the accused, and Ayaz Ameer, the father, were accused by Sara’s uncle and aunt. Subsequently, Ayaz Ameer was arrested under Section 109 of the IPC.
Sania Khan Shot By Ex-Husband Raheel Ahmad
Sania Khan, 29, and her former husband, Raheel Ahmad, 36, were both found with gunshot wounds to the head in Chicago in July 2022. Ahmad, of Alpharetta, Georgia, traveled to Illinois, Sania’s home and shot her dead in a murder-suicide after she posted about their relationship woes on TikTok, according to reports. The pair were married less than a year and divorced in May.
Sania was a Pakistani American photographer, who had frequently described the pressures she faced in seeking a split with Ahmad. “Going through a divorce as a South Asian woman feels like you failed at life sometimes,” she wrote in one post. “The way the community labels you, the lack of support you receive, and the pressure to stay with someone because ‘what will people say’ makes it harder for women to leave marriages that they shouldn’t have been in to begin with.”
Sania mentioned that her family pressured her to maintain the marriage, with some even threatening suicide if she declined. Individuals close to Khan informed Time Magazine that Ahmad was very controlling, subjecting her to constant scrutiny.
These 3 cases are real life, hard hitting and rather grisly examples of how abuse is no joke and furthermore the part, family members and loved ones have in supporting the abusers can cost victims, not just their mental health, happiness but also their lives.
It must be noted that dramas such as Jaisay Aapki Marzi have helped shed light on abuse that many partners are facing today. Many viewers have expressed relatability with Aleezay’s trauma and how Sherry’s characterization aptly describes their own partners or relationships. Case in point, Sherry is controlling like Raheel Ahmed above, and forbids Aleezay from attending her sister’s wedding events, he managed to make her quit her job, his family protected his red flag behaviour, kept his previous relationship a secret, (just like Shahnawaz Amir above), and he belongs to an affluent social background whose family were guilty of concealing evidencejust like Zahir Jaffer above.
Connect the dots if you will!
Tell us if you’re watching Jaisay Aapki Marzi and your take on Sherry’s character played by Mikaal Zulfikaar.
Jaisay Aapki Marzi has been produced by Six Sigma Plus. The project is penned by Naila Jaffri and directed by Saba Hameed. The cast includes Mikaal Zulfiqar as Sherry, Dur e Fishan Saleem, Javed Sheikh and Kiran Malik, Ali Tahir, Ali Safina in leading roles as part of an ensemble cast. This drama airs on ARY Digital.
Sources: Arab News, CNN, New York Post
