Restricted access: Lone wolves barred from entering women’s markets

Men can only enter bazaars of Androon Shehr with families

PESHAWAR: Catcalls and unruly whistles in crowded marketplaces will become a thing of the past ahead of Eidul Fitr. Women can now shop for the occasion with ease in Androon Shehr as men are no longer allowed to enter the bazaars unless accompanied by their family or significant other.

SSP Operations Abbas Majeed Khan Marwat told The Express Tribune various complaints were received and the relevant authorities decided to ban the entry of lone wolves in a market famous for women’s shopping.

Marwat said men can enter the bazaars with their families.

“Women police will also be deployed to provide heightened security to shoppers in the last 10 days of Ramazan.”

The bazaars where the entry of men was banned include Meena Bazaar, Gura Bazaar, Shaheen Bazaar and Shafi Market. A traffic plan will also be chalked out for Eid shopping during the last week of Ramazan.

Marwat added the entry of rickshaws and cabs has been barred from markets such as Saddar Bazaar. On the other hand, traffic wardens have started educating drivers on traffic rules and regulations through a multimedia setup.

Generally, the city’s markets draw lot of customers after iftar during the last 10 days of Ramazan. All major markets are filled to the brim as people shop for the festive occasion.

The markets where men were barred from entering have narrow streets and shoppers barely have any room to cross each other without a graze.

Women have welcomed the move, saying most of the men who enter the markets are there to tease and harass them.

Saira Khan, a resident of Hayatabad, is a regular at such markets before Eid.

“I didn’t understand the purpose of allowing men to enter the bazaars without their families, especially where the merchandise is only for women,” she said

She refused to generalise men altogether, saying not all men came to the market to harass women. At the same time, she acknowledged there were some black sheep among them.

The men themselves welcomed the move – especially those who were married. Malik Kamran Zarin, who works at a nonprofit organisation in the city, told The Express Tribune this development will allow women to shop in a comfortable environment.

Meanwhile, Ibrarullah said those men who are genuinely interested in shopping for women of their family without bringing them to the markets should visit the bazaars in the initial weeks of Ramazan to avoid such a situation.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 25^th, 2016.