SUKKUR:
Former sex workers of Sukkur city, who are now trying to lead respectable lives in Qasimabad market held a press conference on Friday at the press club against the behaviour of the police.
The women, around 15 of them, used to work in Qasimabad’s red-light area about more than a decade ago.
But since the business went down and the red-light activities moved to other areas, these women stayed here and have been trying to lead respectable lives.
On Friday, they were angry at the police for raiding their homes and misbehaving with them. On Thursday, the SHO of A Section police station raided the houses in Qasimabad with a contingent and beat up the women and children living there.
They alleged that SHO Mushtaq Shah and other policemen raided their houses on Thursday afternoon when they were preparing lunch.
“The police never raised a finger on us when we lived sinfully,” alleged Noor Jehan, Nagina, Samina, Nasreen, Nargis and others. “Now when we want to lead a respectable life they raid our houses and throw away our belongings. They even threw away out food and water coolers on the road.”
Noor Jehan, who has been living in the market for the last 45 years, said that in the glory days of Qasimabad’s red-light area, the police never bothered them. Most of the bazaar has shut down now and the shops are now owned by auto, motorcycle and rickshaw mechanics and showrooms.
Nargis, who has been living here for the last 30 years, has two daughters whom she wants to learn the Holy Quran by heart. Acording to her, the police raided her house while she was making lunch for the girls. “The police threw away the food,” she said. “They did not even allow my younger daughter to drink a glass of water and threw away the water cooler.”
She believed that the police want them to leave the area. But the people did not want ex sex workers living with them. They say, “They are women of bad character and will ruin entire locality”.
Since the red-light area has shut down, police and intelligence officials keep patrolling bazaar and harass people. The women demanded that the higher authorities of the police take notice of the high-handedness of Sukkur police and rid them of their atrocities so that they could live in peace.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 12th, 2012.
COMMENTS (10)
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@ashar: And why would you want to? are you another Maya khan (do you know what happened to her??), who made you responsible for this moral policing? If you are a farishta maybe then you can otherwise, it will be better for us to correct ourselves first. If you are so much about moral policing then go after corruption in our society (and this also includes prostitution), I will be with you but don't know why people only focus on the issue of a girl and a boy meeting and plaguing our society when clearly there are other issues where deen/humanity is compromised a great deal more. Disturb a girl and a boy?? who are you to disturb anybody??
@Faraz: @@plarkin: Great! the polica has now been islamized. My dear friends, it was actually the monthly bhatta that was stopped coming from that family based on which the police took that action not upon the complaint of Muhallay wallas since the elderly braintrust of our society has long gone and we cannot even disturb a boy and a girl dating in our neighboorhood park during school time.
@@plarkin: well said, I agree with you, the irony is.... don't know why some people think they own Islam, and others (the slightly more open minded) have nothing to do with it. If believing in one Allah and his messenger (PBUH) being tolerant, living in peace, respecting others is being liberal then I am proud to be a liberal Muslim and would rather not be a hate preaching fanatic.
@ashar: so is this what Islam teaches us? not forgive those who seek their forgiveness for their sins?? and continue harassing these women who are now trying to live decent lives?? we are nobody to judge anyway in the first place. This indeed is a cruel act, I am sorry but Mullahs have hijacked our true Islam and have given us intolerance and disrespect for others.and this very much reflects in comments like yours.
It has nothing to do with the religious people, they actually support the ex sex workers, but the Liberals and athiests are the one causing a problem.
@ ashar
Sorry ashar. The liberals are all busy commenting/trolling on articles about Islam :P
Police rocks!
@ashar:
With pleasure. Why are these women being harassed? Because the "religious" people in the neighborhood want them out. This is the result of the intolerance preached from the pulpits by your mullahs.
That's disgusting.. What u guys want ?? Their is no space of RESPECTABLE living in ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF PAKISTAN...
Comments of all the liberals are cordially invited deploring the role of mullas, muftees and so called jehadis behind this act of cruelity committed by the Police.