Passing laws is not enough

Letter April 01, 2012
I believe that a change in the mental attitudes of men towards women is required here.

MAULDIN, SOUTH CAROLINA, US: This refers to Amber Darr’s article titled “Bury her standing” (March 30), which talks about the unfortunate case of Fakhra Younus. I believe that a change in the mental attitudes of men towards women is required here. This change cannot be brought in place through the passage of laws, which at the maximum commits the perpetrator of such an act to a lifetime of incarceration, but does nothing to make him realise his act is a serious crime against humanity.

The truth is that in Pakistan, women are treated like chattel belonging to men and can be treated any way that men like. To extract our society from this sickening malaise, what is required is basic education about human rights and a generous portion of humane rationality. Unfortunately, I do not see the Pakistani male ready to join the civilised world any time soon. Until the time that this happens, women will be forced to accept the abuses that they suffer at the hands of men and be treated like chattel for another few generations.


Abbas Anis


Published in The Express Tribune, April 2nd, 2012.