Senior Pakistani actress Maria Wasti has has expressed her support for the slogan “My Body, My Choice,” emphasising that it has been wrongly politicised and misinterpreted in the society.

In a recent podcast, Wasti discussed various topics, including women’s rights and children’s rights, addressing key issues affecting marginalised groups in Pakistan.

Wasti highlighted that the slogan, which calls for autonomy and freedom of choice, has been controversially linked solely to the word “body.”

She clarified that the core message of the slogan is about individual autonomy, self-determination, and the right to make personal decisions—not about the body in isolation.

The actress pointed out that despite women constituting 55% of Pakistan’s population, they continue to fight for their basic rights as if they are a minority.

She argued that the slogan is not about the physical body but about empowering individuals to control their lives and decisions, an idea that should not be controversial.

Drawing a comparison, Wasti noted that just as people are not questioned when they claim ownership over body parts like a kidney or an eye, the same should apply to the slogan “My Body, My Choice.”

She emphasised that women are using this slogan because their rights are being denied and they are not even allowed to discuss them openly.

Further, Wasti criticized the societal norm where children are often discouraged from asking questions or expressing their thoughts.

She stressed that children’s questions are frequently dismissed, and they are told to simply obey commands without explanation.