Actress Maha Hasan shared in a recent interview that she finally opened up about a painful experience from her past. She spoke about facing harassment at a young age. She said someone inappropriately talked to her and also touched her wrongly. At that time, she didn’t fully understand how serious it was. Instead of calling it out, she tried to make excuses for the man who did it. She even thought maybe he just needed therapy.
Maha said this incident broke her value system. It took her time to realise that what happened to her was completely wrong. She admitted that she didn’t file an FIR and still feels guilty that maybe other girls also became his victims. Even though she didn’t take names or try to sensationalize the matter, she spoke about the emotional damage such incidents cause and how long it can take to understand and accept it fully.
Sadly, Maha is not the only one who has gone through something like this. Many girls and even boys in Pakistan face harassment at a young age. But they either don’t understand what’s happening, or they are too scared or ashamed to talk about it.
According to Sahil, an organization that works on child protection in Pakistan, more than 2,900 cases of child abuse were reported in one year alone. And these are just the cases that were reported; many more never come to light because the victims stay silent.
Often, society tells young people to stay quiet. Victims are scared they won’t be believed or that they’ll be blamed. Even people who are 18 or older may not have the emotional tools or support to speak up or take action. There is also a big lack of education around consent and personal boundaries. Many people grow up never being taught what is okay and what is not.
Maha’s story also shows how deeply these experiences affect a person. She still remembers it clearly, still feels guilty, and still wishes she had done something more. But speaking about it now is a very strong and brave step. Her honesty can help others who have gone through something similar but haven’t found the courage to say it out loud.
This is why we need to talk more openly about harassment. We need to create safe spaces where victims can speak without fear. We need better education so young people understand their rights and can recognize when someone is crossing the line. And we need to support survivors instead of blaming them.
Maha Hasan’s words remind us that silence can be heavy, but sharing your truth can also be the first step toward healing for yourself and for others.
