The whole society is responsible for bringing about this tragic result
KARACHI: Qandeel Baloch was a simple woman who was mishandled by society. She just wanted to be known and recognised. In this process, she lost her balance and acted somewhat strangely — that is all.
There are several factors that were at play in the case of the young Qandeel. The deluge of nonsensical dramas, unbridled fashion shows, sensational Indian films, loud advertisements, and access to the internet has baffled the new generation. They are getting rudderless, not knowing what to do and where to go. The glitter and flamboyance of the given environment is constantly pulling and strangling them. Their role models are no longer scientists, scholars or intellectuals but heroes or heroines of movies and dramas. Under these circumstances, our youth is attracted by the flashy life of show business. Everyone tries to be a celebrity and takes quick, immature steps to gain popularity, often to the disgust of the conservative sector of society. The other problem is that there is hardly any institution where the talent of a young girl or boy is genuinely gauged, measured and put to proper use in the right direction. Another factor that weighs on the Qandeel Baloch case is the uneducated, ill-bred men with tribal thinking. They deem it wise to just kill any person who tries to deviate a little from the norm. They believe that such honour killing will save their faces and solve all their problems. Finally, another factor is the ineffective judicial system where the killer is often acquitted easily or the whole matter is thrown under the carpet for years.
If we do not create the right role models, establish institutions for exploring talent and guiding young, aspiring stars in the right direction, then many more Qandeels shall rise and be killed in the same manner. Likewise needed is reform in the police and judicial systems, as well as education for men and women to treat women who might follow different norms as human beings. It is not one man who killed Qandeel Baloch; the whole society is responsible for bringing about this tragic result.
Tooba Nizam Mirza
Published in The Express Tribune, July 21st, 2016.
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