The women molested were your responsibility, Khan Sahib, and you fed them to the wolves

A dependable and trustworthy leader is a rarity today, and we thought we had found a messiah in you.

Dear Imran Khan,

I write to you today, not as a woman, but as one of those supporters who, whilst having issues with your ideology, had belief in your ability to unite the nation.

You are one of the few leaders the nation believed in and idolised for being vocal about equal rights for all. Women, in this misogynistic society, needed a leader like you to stand up for their rights.

But disturbing events have started to occur.

While on one hand, you talk about women empowerment and equal rights for every individual, your female supporters are still being harassed and physically abused, as was seen in your recent town hall session.

And this incident in Lahore is not the first of its kind.

A similar incident took place in Peshawar yesterday and you, like any other politician, played the blame game instead of addressing the issue head on or talking about taking proper precautions to ensure security.


I am sure you haven't forgotten the rally at which your voters and supporters threw women supporters onto barbed wires.


And then of course when Quatrina Hosain was attacked by a mob at your rally in Wah?

Do you notice a vicious pattern emerging from within these stories?

It looks like the male wing of your party does not want women to participate in any of your public gatherings. But that’s not surprising considering your stance on the Women’s Protection Bill. You looked towards one of the most archaic and sexist bodies, the Council of Islamic Ideology, to approve a provincial women’s domestic bill.

Should be have been alarmed by these decisions of yours?

The frightening situation that took place yesterday clearly indicates that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) rallies are about women getting exploited, not a political meeting. The ‘Movement of Justice’ – that’s what the party is called. This is the same party where hopes of women are torn apart at almost every public meeting.

But you choose to remain silent on these matters. How very convenient. We thought we had found a messiah in you. But was I wrong. You don’t realise the damage you’ve inflicted on your female supporters, and I say you, because you solely are responsible for the ideas you support, which have now dribbled down to your supporters.

This damage goes beyond just physical harassment and molestation, it encompasses emotional trauma as well. It reiterates the fact that women don’t belong in the public sphere. That’s just not their place.

This incident will affect PTI's liberal face & offcourse women bank of followers who comes in their Jalsas #womanharrasment #ptijalsa

— Sana Mirza (@SanaMerza) May 9, 2016

Absolutely horrifying video from the #ptijalsa in Islamabad. A woman's worst nightmare. Hope they made it out.

— Sahar Habib Ghazi (@SaharHGhazi) May 2, 2016

Congratulaions @ImranKhanPTI !
Trend of MISMANAGEMENT is continue in #PTIJalsa 😱
Ths time ur only SORRY ll nt work pic.twitter.com/Hvf2jl5g2P

— Anam Ali Depar (@AnamAdepar) May 1, 2016

Simply put, you’ve failed. My heart is filled with grief and anger over the fact that you have just added to the on-going politics of neglect that has blackened our history and made our future seem bleaker than ever.

Don’t Islamic norms and culture require its leaders to protect and ensure the security of its people? Women included. Wasn’t it your responsibility to take action against those insensitive workers of your party who not only harassed your supporters, but also ruined your reputation in public?

The women who were molested were not ordinary citizens, they had voted for you and stood by you through your political journey, and yet, they did not receive your support, especially when they needed it the most. They were YOUR responsibility, Khan Sahib, and you fed them to the wolves.

Your negligence is heart-breaking, Khan Sahib. We, the women who support you, considered you a stalwart leader of our country. But after your heartless silence over this tragic incident, do you have any moral authority left to even ask the women of Pakistan for their support?

I think not.

A disappointed citizen,

Hirah Siddiqui