Without any doubt, the Minar-e-Pakistan incident is something we never wish to witness again in our country. For the past few years, a surge has been witnessed in such incidents, due to which Pakistan is widely seen as an unsafe country for women.
It is true that in our male-dominated society, women face many problems. It is manifold difficult for a woman to build a life of her own as compared to a man.The presence of ignorant, self-righteous men, for whom women are nothing but objects for their sexual satisfaction, makes their struggle much harder.
In the light of increasing harassment cases against women in Pakistan, the judge of Pakistan apex court Justice Mansoor Ali Shah issued a ruling in April this year.
In his verdict, Justice Shah ruled that a woman’s sexual character or reputation, is irrelevant and every woman is entitled to equal protection of the law. Justice Mansoor also directed the court to discontinue the use of painfully intrusive and inappropriate expressions for women.
“A woman, whatever her sexual character or reputation may be, is entitled to equal protection of the law. No one has the licence to invade her person or violate her privacy on the ground of her alleged immoral character,” the ruling read.
This phenomenal judgment indicates that amongst the grays of suffering, there lies a silver lining too. More and more women are now coming forward to raise their voice. Unlike the past, women are not afraid to report harassment, violence or any other atrocities against them.
The road to justice is indeed bumpy and long and the journey painfully slow. But from cricket to parliament, we have women representatives in every field of life. Although there is still a long way to go, it is needless to say that Pakistani women are more empowered, aware, free and educated today.
Meanwhile in the chaos of Minar-e-Pakistan incident, some foes of Pakistan in disguise of “activists” have turned the movement of women rights into anti-Pakistan narrative. Instead of raising their voice for justice, these handful of so-called activists are flaring up hatred against Pakistan.
Kasur’s Zainab, Islamabad’s Noor Mukadam and many other innocent women, security personnel, teachers, doctors, humanitarians, lawyers, journalists and volunteers make up Pakistan. Those 400 men are not Pakistan, Pakistan disowns them and everyone else who tries to soil its pious name regardless of the gender.
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