‘Abuse of any kind is unacceptable’: Atiqa Odho lends support to people wanting to escape toxic relationships

If you’re struggling to find your voice, Atiqa Odho wants you to realise that “your life is in your own hands”. She feels it’s her duty to help others escape toxic relationships having survived both “physical and emotional abuse” as a young woman herself.

On Friday, the Pyaar Ke Sadqay actor took to Instagram to share a message for women in abusive relationships and wrote, “abuse of any kind is unacceptable regardless who it’s coming from. Walk away and never look back. If you allow anyone to mistreat you they will form a habit to do so and it only gets worse with time.”

She added that abusers tend to get addicted to toxic behaviour and there’s no end to it. Hence, a person must take control of their life, self-worth, dignity as they are “precious” and that they should be strong.

“Many will tell you things that weaken your own resolve but never listen to them. Only listen to your gut and mind, not even your heart for it falters a lot. Trust me when I say this, you can do much much better so do not compromise and put your life at risk for anyone. Get out while you still can!” she wrote.

The veteran actor was praised by her followers in the comment section. A follower thanked her and wrote, “All of us who have gotten out of physically and emotionally abusive marriages/relationships need to talk about it and help those going through it to get out while they can. More power to you.” Another pointed fingers at society for never accepting the “reality” of the situation.

One even questioned why society doesn’t let divorced women live like “normal human beings” while others agreed with Odho’s words.

A lot of high-profile Pakistanis have raised their voices against toxic relationships in the past and some have even held TV shows responsible for normalising emotional and physical abuse.

Writer Nemrah Ahmad Niazi once called out show creators and writers for perpetuating “toxic hero culture” and said it needs to stop. She emphasised that we need to “stop teaching women that they need to settle for such men because it is love. This is NOT love. This is obsession and psychopathic behaviour.”