KARACHI:
Prime Minister Imran Khan’s statement linking women’s dress-up to sexual violence has stirred a controversy. His statement has, unfortunately, perpetuated the prevailing negative mindset instead of helping to mitigate the suffering of women. It justifies the vulnerability of women rather than be a source of respect and protection for them.
Regrettably, we women have often found ourselves on the receiving end of the inherent double standards, prevailing ignorance, and myopic perceptions and myths that are deeply embedded in our society. Most of the social ills are tracked down to women being the root cause. While the PM’s recent statement reflects his personal views on the issue and his misogynist approach, it is also a glaring example of the patriarchal mindset so very prevalent in our society.
For you information Mr Prime Minister, women and girls are not even safe within the four walls of their own house. They are the most vulnerable target of sexual violence merely because of their gender. If their veil-free dress is what invites them trouble, how do you account for a six month old being molested, raped and murdered? Your whimsical sexual violence narrative – that places responsibility of “doing more” on women – has added to their sense of insecurity and exacerbated their vulnerability, besides providing a good basis for all potential and actual rapists psychopaths to find excuse for their brutal, immoral and unlawful action.
How could you ever forget, Mr Prime Minister, that protection and security of all its citizens is one of the primary responsibilities of the state, and you, being its head, must fulfil your responsibility with due diligence. Kindly be mindful of the fact that the West, which you so often refer to, has a comprehensive ‘referral mechanism’ in place to deal with issues of sexual violence. You should have elaborated on what tangible measures you, or your human rights minister, have done so far in this regard. You have yet to have your National Human Rights Commission in place.
Kindly look before you leap… think before you speak! We cannot afford such damaging statements anymore from a person sitting at the helm of affairs in our country.
Shaista Pervaiz Malik, MNA
Islamabad
Published in The Express Tribune, April 14th, 2021.
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