Coming from a male-dominated background where female slavery is conceivably acceptable and women are viewed as commodities, it requires a significant amount of courage to go against the norms. PHOTO: FILE
Coming from a male-dominated background where female slavery is conceivably acceptable and women are viewed as commodities, it requires a significant amount of courage to go against the norms. This incident also highlights where we have failed as a nation to provide and protect basic human rights for women. Incidents involving trading women to settle familial or tribal disputes is a prevalent evil across the country. We have yet to educate a certain, perhaps, major, section of society to eradicate the bigoted mentalities they hold. Let us initiate this now by making an example of the chauvinist who abused the woman at his will, as well as the two brothers responsible for selling their baby sister.
Arresting the responsible men is only the beginning. The buyer has been charged with Section 376, Punishment for Rape, under the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). However, the authorities must not deal with this grave issue in haste as there are other charges in the Code that the perpetrators should be handed. They must be held accountable as should the brothers, who have been duly booked under Section 109 of the PPC, “Punishment of abetment, if the act abetted [is] committed in consequence and where no express provision is made for its punishment”.
The examples of these men must be communicated within all threads of society to prevent this crime in the future and instil fear of law in the public. We urge the authorities to ascertain that these men are subjected to the punishments laid out by the law and to rightly serve the justice that this lady deserves.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 17th, 2014.
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COMMENTS (6)
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As per the girl is concerned I admire her strength and power to put away the norm to be silent and has reported the incident, as in our society consulting the police or going in courts is considered the last option. Even though she has become a pariah yo the society I feel that she is a brave girl to stand up!! Pakistan needs girls like her who fight for their rights.
@Feroz: Many laws are made but how is possible to stuff 70% of Pakistan in jails. The issue is that we belong to male dominant society where people don't have any respect for women and use them for there benefits.
The country needs a strong legal framework and structure if it wants to overcome such social ills. Implementation of law has to be timely and precise.
@Parvez Amin: I strogly agree
In most of western countries, if a teacher finds any sign of strange behavior of children, or that they have been mistreated, the matter is investigated and child taken away from parents and handed over to organizations who look after such children. I think this should apply to cases where neighbors and relatives find girls being forced for barter trade. The bottom line is that not all parents and guardians are good people and there has to be some authority to intervene, if evil designs are discovered..
The current punishment for rape is not a deterrent. Cutting off the organ as a punishment is cost effective and I believe a credible deterrent. It is cost effective because the taxpayer does not have to bear the cost of imprisonment.