Unless such an attitude of aloofness and ignorance is changed, Pakistan cannot truly progress
KARACHI: This is in response to Aisha Sarwari’s article titled ‘This is what sisterhood looks like’ published on Nov 12th. Ms Sarwari has once again added her powerful voice to draw attention towards the patriarchal milieu we live in.
In a BBC interview, as she quotes, actor Mahira Khan was questioned what part of her conduct led her to avoid harassment in the industry. She said that it wasn’t her conduct but, in fact, her luck that has contributed to her remaining ‘safe’. Such a statement should make us question our collective conscience.
Ms Sarwari rightly points out that Mahira’s answer “means two obvious things. One, that even her lifestyle and status and fame can’t save her from it. Two, that it doesn’t mean if it hasn’t happened yet it wouldn’t happen at all.” This leads to the question, is a woman truly ever safe in this Land of the Pure? Certainly not. However, many would like to believe that, which is why they are the first to accuse an Oscar-winning filmmaker of ‘maligning’ Pakistan. And unless such an attitude of aloofness and ignorance is changed, Pakistan cannot truly progress.
Murtaza Waqas
Published in The Express Tribune, November 20th, 2017.
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