One-man army against public urination

This Saturday, watch out before violating street walls

KARACHI: "More and more men are using side walls as a place to pee. Why they can't control peeing in public when women can control it," asked 24-year-old Tuaha B Shaikh, who plans to launch a campaign to care for street walls.

Shaikh's campaign against the menace of public urination will kick off from August 6 from his locality in Gulshan-e-Iqbal. He intends to convey his message to the public through graffiti: there is a dog with a message reading 'Yahan peshaab kijiaay [urinate here]' inscribed on the wall to cause some intended pun. "I chose a dog for this clear-cut message because in literal Urdu terminologies you use the term 'kutta [dog]' when you are in for a solid fight. It's demeaning," said Shaikh.



Referring to the wordings in the graffiti he said, "It is satire-laced assertion with a deep pun intended. When you can't forcefully stop someone, you make fun of the person."



The 24-year-old admitted that there are not many public toilet facilities available in the city. However, he believes that men can easily use toilets in mosques that are located everywhere. Taking care of and not violating the premises is a social responsibility borne by every individual, said Shaikh, adding that the act of peeing in public and on walls is disgusting. He shared he has seen that men violate public premises in Old Saddar area, Boulton Market and Light House areas, where there are big and small businesses.

Within a week after his campaign begins from Gulshan, Shaikh will expand his campaign to areas of Aladdin Park and near Baitul Mukarram mosque. He also plans to place his graffiti on walls near Empress Market, Capri Cinema, near Gul Plaza and in Boulton Market area. Later on, he added, he will take his campaign to other localities, including Federal B Area.



Shaikh was of the opinion that he is a realistic person and, as an individual, he does not have much power. However, he wishes to make the general public understand that public urination is a cause of concern. He believes that in ethical terms, peeing in public is not right and even socially you are violating the public space. Shaikh added that environmentally, you are being a harmful agent to plants and trees in the surroundings, besides spreading bad smell in the atmosphere, and, in terms of religion, since you are unable to clean yourself afterwards, you remain in a filthy condition.

One will predominantly find his graffiti placed near garbage heaps as he believes that men think since it is garbage there is nothing wrong in adding their part to it. Shaikh has a gut feeling that his mantra will work wonders in the city of lights.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 3^rd, 2016.