Rest in power

Qandeel Baloch’s presence was unfamiliar and bold when juxtaposed with Pakistani religio-cultural norms

Qandeel Baloch’s murder, although still under investigation, was committed because her behaviour and actions brought shame to her family — the sorry excuse for murder under the pseudonym ‘honour’ killing. Ms Baloch, born Fouzia Azeem, was asphyxiated by her older brother overnight on July 15 in Multan. Astonishing as it may be that an older brother murdered his sister without remorse, the more ghastly fact is Ms Baloch’s brother’s motive for the kill. He murdered her over bringing shame to the family ‘honour’ on account of stardom on social media. Admittedly, Ms Baloch’s presence was unfamiliar and bold when juxtaposed with Pakistani religio-cultural norms. Only a small, progressive portion of the Pakistani liberal society appreciated her courage to express herself openly in a culture obliterated with patriarchy. However, no amount of outlandish behaviour warrants or justifies murder — neither according to the country’s Constitution nor the Islamic principles which the majority in the country follows.

Ms Baloch chose a path that was out of the ordinary and there were those who decided it was their place to deal judgment. In the most suffocating of situations, some women are only allowed to behave, dress, speak, and act as their husbands, fathers, or brothers will let them. They are rejected and condemned unless they conform to cultural norms. When these requirements are not met, the male-dominated society, sometimes supported by regressive-thinking females — as we have seen in the case of Ms Baloch and thousands of other women — resorts to murder. The discourse on women’s rights in a patriarchal environment that this murder has unlocked is imperative and must be kept open to attain progress in terms of legislation and implementation of women’s protection laws as well as changing mindsets. Our legislation has thus far failed us and we have yet to see a man, or society at large at this point, justly punished over the dastardly act of murder, and countless other crimes, under the guise of bringing shame to one’s family. 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 19^th, 2016.

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