Feroz Rahim Baluch
Upsurge in sexual harassment cases have effected myriad number of women in Pakistan. Hence, the harassers have proved to be omnipotent and more powerful than our judiciary and system. As, according to the GeoNews investigation, “Only 41% of rape cases are reported to the police“ owing to the loopholes and let-out policies of our law and order system. Currently the women in Pakistan are in thrall of the misogynists. As, there is no proper practice of law and order against gender based violences in the country. Beside this, the failure of rule of law and behaviours of leaders have further postered women rights violations in the country. As, In April this year when former prime minister Imran khan was asked in an interview with the BBC regarding the rise of sexual harassment cases in the country to which he replied that “In a place like Pakistan women need to cover themselves up to prevent temptation in the society”. This is a kind of victim blaming. Such statements from the supreme leader of the state causes collective traumas and it, however, poses a depressing picture for the women. Such statements from supreme leader of a state will accelerate much more sexual harassment cases. As on the other hand, nobody stands for the desperate rape and sexual harassment victims. Such statements portrays depressing picture for the status of the women in our country. Additionally, the sexual harassment and rape cases look like inexorable in Pakistan. As, according to the official statistics 11 rape cases are reported every day in Pakistan, and according to police over 22,000 cases have been reported to the police in the last six years.
Anyway, multiple other cases, larger than this number are not reported to the police owing to social pressures and failed judiciary system. Last but not the least, the families and relatives mostly disavow the victims who stand against the rape and sexual harassment cases. The ones who report the cases and challenges the accused in the court are smouldering due to societal cultural, religious pressures and loopholes in rule of law. Similarly, we have lost our women on moral grounds too. Studying regarding the increased rape and sexual harassment cases, the most thorny thing is that, a large number of rape and sexual harassment cases involved close family members. In the same way, regarding WION news where a Pakistani lawmaker claimed that, “82% of the rape and sexual harassment perpetrators in Pakistan are family members of the victims. Such as, fathers, brothers, uncles of the rape survivors”. Hence, it dwindles the reported rape cases.
Thus, we need to stand for our women on moral grounds otherwise, we will not only lose our women but all our existence, civilization and future too as humab beings and citizens of the state. In short, reading the newspapers on daily bases the gender based violence cases are sighted daily. Too many cases reported in newspapers but few get to a conclusion. Secondly, the flux of revenge cases is an another factor that shows, how we are losing our women.
The revenge cases, increased rape and violent gender based violence portrays the intentions of patriarchal vicious circle around the our women. As in early 2018, Islamabad police arrested 10 family members from two families, on the case of a 40 year women rape. As, earlier a boy was caught in a sexual act with a 13 years old girl. Whereas, the family and neighbours wanted to kill him. The issue was settle down, when the sister of accused was offered to the brother of 13 year old girl. Who was a 40 year old women. However, she was duly raped by the brother of 13 years old girls. Such acts against the women will in 21st century shows, how we have fallen on moral grounds. In such a state, there must be a proper way of providing sex education. The judiciary, social and cultural norms must change their approach and stances for the women. Thus, they will prove to be fatal for women. The courts and judiciary must act without any pressure against gender based violence. The way things are going on, we will have a dangerously fatal misogynist society for women, and will surely loose our women.