KARACHI:
As the saying goes, if you want to know how civilised a nation is, look at how it treats its women. In Pakistan, women are persecuted systematically. With each passing day, we witness a new mind-boggling incident of violence or abuse against women. After an extensive discourse on Noor Mukadam’s case and victim-blaming rhetoric, another horrific incident was brought to public attention.
This incident occurred at Lahore’s Greater Iqbal Park on Independence Day, which many people have used to reason their victim-blaming stance. However, it is unreasonable to blame the victim for such an indecent act. It is the 400 perpetrators that should be blamed. The victim’s age, attire, persona, and speech do not matter because it is her constitutional right to exercise the freedom given to her. Her actions cannot be used to justify the crime committed by the mob; she did not do anything that could have provoked those actions. To everyone claiming that the victim put up a stunt for fame, why would a woman have herself harassed by a mob of 400 goons?
The onus of this heinous act is entirely on the men whether they were a part of the mob or just bystanders. This also explains why women say “all men” are the same. The impunity they enjoy even after committing a heinous crime makes all men the same in one way or another. The law clearly defines that irrespective of a woman’s past and future, she is entitled to equality, respect and protection. The problem is not with how a woman dress but the mindset. The mindset needs to change. In addition, the imposition of strict punishment and the certainty of punishment will prove to be a huge breakthrough.
Michael Samuel
Rawalpindi
Published in The Express Tribune, September 5th, 2021.
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