Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy responds to harassment tweet

Academy Award winner Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy on Tuesday issued a clarification on her recent tweet about a doctor, who treated her sister and later tried to connect with her on social media.

Chinoy had taken to Twitter to share the story of her sister, who had gone to a private hospital for a medical check-up but later received a friendship request on social media from the same doctor who tended to her.

The tweet stirred widespread debate on social media in Pakistan, fueling emotions as some supported her stance while others bashed her. 

In her response posted on Twitter earlier today, she wrote: "My recent tweets about a doctor’s inappropriate behaviour has drawn much comment and controversy. The conversation has unfortunately steered far from the safety of women, unchecked unethical practices & harassment."

“As a public figure I receive unsolicited friendship requests from strangers all the time, and never once have I brought that up, however, this request to my sister was under different circumstances," she said. 

"Patients are vulnerable, especially women who trust a doctor to see them simply as a patient, in whatever medical state that may be. When that trust is broken it is a violation," Sharmeen continued. 

Sharmeen had said in her recent outburst that "there are zero boundaries in #pakistan! Last night my sister went to AKU emergency & the doctor who tended to her tried 2 add her on FB 1/2."

"I don't quite understand how doctor tending 2 emergency patients thinks it's ok to take a female patient info & add her on FB! 2/2 unethical," she had continued, adding: "Unfortunately the doctor messed with the wrong women in the wrong family and I will definitely report him! Harassment has 2 stop!"

Rumours on social media suggested that the doctor had been fired from the hospital.