We live in a misogynist and patriarchal society. The recent killing of Noor Mukadam and Aisha Siddiqui is just an addition to the statics of anti-women crimes. Women in Pakistan are not safe. After India and Afghanistan, Pakistan is considered a hard country for women. Despite constitutional parity promised to them, women remain a marginalized group of society.
Article 25 and 34 grant equal status to all the citizens, and their life and dignity is to be safeguarded by the state. But unfortunately, this remains confined to black and white. Recently, a husband murdered his wife and mother of four children in Hyderabad. Although the woman had kept complaining to her family about her husband’s callous behaviour, her cries were not heeded; the main reason being the family reputation. When her daughter was enquired, she told that her mother bore physical torture regularly. Moreover, she added that she would never wish to return to her father else she would be the next to be slain. The young girl seemed disappointed and devastated because her mother could not be saved. Had pertinent steps been taken on time, she would have been alive with her children.
This is not the only case. Household torture is deep-rooted in every nook and corner of the country. Yet the constitutional framework and executive actions fall short to address it. Despite such an aggravated state, a bill against household abuse could not be passed due to the intervention of religious elements.
Furthermore, marital rape is not considered rape in Pakistan.
It’s high time to frame and enact statutes in order to guard women and to bring equal status to them. Additionally, religion should be rightly interpreted as Islam preaches respect and protection of women. As Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) emphasized the rights of women over men in his last sermon. In Risyasat e Madina, his words should be put into practice.
MUHAMMAD SHARIF OTHO
Khairpur Mir
