'Harassing a woman is what this nation has come down to'

Pakistani Twitter reacts to footage of PTI leader Shireen Mazari's arrest, manhandling

The arrest of former human rights minister Shireen Mazari has appalled netizens and politicians alike with resounding condemnation against the violence inflicted upon her. Footage emerged of female police officers dragging Mazari out of her car as she resisted their force and called them out for their use of force against her.

Shortly after the arrest, Mazari's daughter, lawyer Imaan Mazari spoke to reporters where she said her mother has been 'abducted' and that she will 'come after the government.'

Female police officers drag former Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari from her car. Trying to defend herself, Mazari called them out for harassing her and using violence against her. #etribune #news #ShireenMazari pic.twitter.com/p9WkDF6wLX

— The Express Tribune (@etribune) May 21, 2022

Member of the National Assembly representing Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Nafisa Shah tweeted that the arrest was uncalled for.

Arresting #ShireenMazari who has no allegations against her is uncalled for, wrong! Who has ordered her arrest and why?

— Nafisa Shah (@ShahNafisa) May 21, 2022

Islamabad Police dislcosed the reason for her arrest, citing that it was on the request of the anti-corruption department and that she was not mishandled by female police officers.

Dr. Shireen Mazari was arrested by female police officers as per the law on the request of the anti-corruption department. News of any mishandling is baseless.

— Islamabad Police (@ICT_Police) May 21, 2022

The Islamabad police account faced backlash for their statement with one netizen asking if they were blind and that force is clearly seen in the footage that was circulated on social media.

So you didn't see the video or are you blind to judge what mishandling is? Things are evident now. Playing in the hands of cherry blossom! Koi baat nahi laazim hai k hum bhi daikhain gay!

— Haris میاں (@harismian) May 21, 2022

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan condemned the the 'violent abduction'. Lashing out at the current government, the former premier stated that they cannot 'coerce her with this fascism.'

Our senior party leader Shireen Mazari has reportedly been violently abducted from outside her house by this fascist regime.

Shireen is strong and fearless, if the imported govt thinks it can coerce her by this fascism, they have miscalculated! 1/2#ReleaseDrMazari

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) May 21, 2022

Posters likening Mazari to Argentine Marxist and reformist Che Guevera, whose efforts in the Cuban Revolution made him a symbol of activism in popular culture.

#NewProfilePic 💪
Stay strong #ShireenMazari pic.twitter.com/e6ky57gPlp

— ShahJee Naseeb  (@ShahjeeNaseeb) May 21, 2022

Speculations on her arrest surfaced online, netizens claimed she was arressted for corruption cases against her father in 1972, when Mazari was only six years old.

And apparently she was only 6 years old at that time if you do the calculations. #ShireenMazari https://t.co/DwmckrvUqs

— Noorena Shams (@noorenashams) May 21, 2022

Political scientist Shama Junejo voiced her storng condemnation against the 'inhuman' arrest of 'an aged woman.'

Unbelievable and inhuman. She is an aged woman, I strongly condemn it.
Arresting her in 1971’s case is illegal. Stay strong and I see you getting her released very soon. @HRCP87 please take notice for this arrest. #ShireenMazari https://t.co/GC0GUiEzRz

— Shama Junejo (@ShamaJunejo) May 21, 2022

Pakistani social media users were not the only ones who voiced their outrage at the arrest of the former humans rights minister; Russian journalist Veronika Sofia said her intwerview with Mazari on bombings in Lebanon was the best interview she conducted and that she condemns her arrest.

Two years ago, when I had a live interview with the Pakistani Minister of Human Rights about the bombings in Lebanon that killed hundreds of people,she said something good and loving humanity. It was the best of all my interviews. She is a brave woman and I condemn#ShireenMazari pic.twitter.com/jpXiVU0QTI

— Veronika Sofia (@VeronikaSofiaRS) May 21, 2022

Voicing her political stance, Sofia bashed Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and warned that Pakistan might face the same predicament as Sri Lanka.

What kind of dirty politics is the PML-N doing? Does all this happen in democracy? It is not democracy, it is the fire of revenge. PML-N will soon make Pakistan Sri Lanka. Now what will be Imran Khan's next step?#ShireenMazari #PTI #imrankhan pic.twitter.com/bBBQOu1DmC

— Veronika Sofia (@VeronikaSofiaRS) May 21, 2022

Following social media outrage, Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz ordered Mazari's release. The Islamabad High Court ordered Mazari's presence at 11:30pm.

CM Punjab, Hamza Shehbaz, has directed Dr Mazari’s immediate release - Geo news

— Reema Omer (@reema_omer) May 21, 2022

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz vice-president Maryam Nawaz held a media conference in which she shared explosive allegations of her incarceration. Maryam Nawaz claimed that PTI members were using the 'woman card' and that if Mazari is convicted of a crime she should own up to it and prove herself innocent through a trial. Maryam Nawaz went on to describe her incarceration and arrest, how unlike Mazari she was arrested by male police officers instead of female police officers. The PMLN leader spoke of how she was secretly filmed while imprisoned and how guards would taunt her during raids in the middle of the night.

Maryam Nawaz, the scion of the Sharif political dynasty and PMLN vice-president, made explosive allegations on Saturday as she claimed that she was secretly videotaped and harassed by National Accountability Bureau personnel during her incarceration.#etribune #news #MaryamNawaz pic.twitter.com/RRmutCxOhO

— The Express Tribune (@etribune) May 21, 2022

Obscene attacks on women, verbally, physically have become so rampant in every strata of society, these attacks have also seeped into the world of politics, highlighted netizen Noreena Shams.

Curse a woman, imitate a woman, harass a woman, insult a woman, beat a woman, assault a woman, abuse a woman, kidnap a woman, rape a woman, behead a woman, kill a woman is what this nation has come to unfortunately. #ShireenMazari #MaryamNawaz #Women

— Noorena Shams (@noorenashams) May 21, 2022