From venture to cannibal
Amina Abdul sattar
Recently, I read the short story Khol Do by Saadat Hasan Manto, which portrayed the situation from nearly 78 years ago. At a time when Hindus and Muslims lived together, I wondered why, even after so many decades, we still need to write about the same issues. We still need to write articles and make videos on the same topics.
I came across a reel in which a woman asked another woman, "If men disappeared from this world, who would protect women?" Her witty answer left the audience surprised when she replied, "If men vanished, then from whom would women need protection?"
When I was young, I did not even know the terms harassment and rape, yet I heard these words everywhere. I constantly heard people around me saying that women should be careful of men. Whenever a woman went outside alone, everyone became worried because society was not safe for girls.
As Muslims, our religion has already granted women sufficient rights. During the era of Hazrat Umar (RA), a woman could walk alone wherever she wanted, even at night. That was the true respect for women and the true system of governance because all laws were implemented in practice.
Since my childhood, I have been hearing heartbreaking news about rape cases, and unfortunately, they continue to increase day by day. In 2018, when seven-year-old Zainab was brutally raped and murdered, it was an unbearable tragedy for all of us. After this case, the whole country united, the criminals were punished according to the law, and several legal reforms were introduced. As citizens, we hoped such crimes would decrease. But who knew that Pakistan still has so many people who prey on women?
The Noor case once again shook the nation. Noor was a 27-year-old young woman who could not protect herself from a predator. Her family had to appear in court many times, and after a long struggle, they finally got justice.
There are hundreds of cases that remain unreported because of the fear of society. Within just four years, around 14,000 cases involving violence against women have been reported in Pakistan.
Even in their own country, Pakistani women are not safe. It is not about age, independence, strangers, or being alone. We have witnessed countless cases where women were assaulted by their own relatives. Sometimes, even children become victims of these horrific crimes and are brutally murdered.
When the Motorway case was reported in Lahore, many people criticized the woman for travelling alone. Instead of blaming the perpetrators, they questioned her clothing and why she was driving alone. To be honest, these are nothing but lame excuses because we have already seen many women being raped even when they were fully covered. On the other hand, many women have been abducted even when they were with their family members. These are all just lame excuses. No doubt, many responsibilities are placed on women, but men also have responsibilities. Men must also lower their gaze and control their actions.
Not all men—but why is it always men who consider women their property?
Once our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
"Treat women well, for they are entrusted to you by Allah."
As men are advised to fear Allah in the matter of women, now, vice versa, women are frightened of men.
Last week, I was discussing acid attacks with someone. He told me such incidents had become very rare. However, the very next day, I heard about the case of a doctor who was set on fire by a man. Social media spreads awareness about these issues, yet every day Pakistan witnesses cases of child rape. Pakistan is not safe for children either, as many of them are sexually assaulted every single day.
We used to teach our children to stay away from strangers, but we often failed to protect them from people they already knew. We have seen many cases in which children were abused or murdered by their own relatives. Recently, social media was flooded with the news of Umar Rathore's case. He was murdered six years ago by someone known to the family. Although his family was educated, aware of the law, and fought tirelessly for justice, his killers have still not received the death sentence.
From Umar Rathore's case, we can learn several lessons. First, never place blind trust in anyone, even if they are relatives. Second, in Pakistan, even influential families often struggle to obtain justice. Third, not only girls but boys are also abducted, abused, and murdered.
We have countless unforgettable cases that are still waiting for justice. Recently, we were devastated by the deaths of Muntaha, Kulsoom, Wali, Shakeel, and many others. Some families received justice, but many are still waiting.
These crimes can certainly be reduced through stronger governance and effective implementation of the law, although they may never be eliminated entirely. As parents and citizens, do we not also have responsibilities? Parents should monitor their children's activities. Their mobile phones should remain under parental supervision because children may sometimes be exposed to pornographic content. Parents should also educate them about good touch and bad touch, understand the causes of their children's frustration, and address any unusual behaviour immediately.
Parents must raise their sons to respect women. If boys are brought up believing they are kings or the heads of the family, they may develop a false sense of superiority. Society often tells men that they are rulers, but they also need to be taught that women deserve equal respect, dignity, and rights.
Since childhood, we have witnessed men attacking women—sometimes with acid, sometimes through abuse, and often through sexual violence.
To be honest, it is heartbreaking to be a Pakistani woman today. We cannot step outside without fearing for our safety. Universities are not always safe. Madrasas are not always safe. Workplaces can be unsafe. In some cases, the bodies of women are found in gutters or stuffed into sacks.
After reading Raja Gidh by Bano Qudsia, I was surprised that she used the word "vulture" for a man. But now, after years of witnessing such incidents, I find myself using the word "cannibal" for those men who prey on the human body.
I used to believe that women should never have to struggle for their rights because they are born with those rights. But now I feel that many men have taken away those rights and continue to violate them.
In the end, I would simply say that when Saadat Hasan Manto was pressured to stop writing about society, he refused and said:
"I only hold up a mirror to society. If you stop doing filthy things, I will stop writing filthy content."
Today, women raise their voices and write against the actions of those men because of the crimes they commit against women.
Stop committing crimes against women, and we will no longer have to raise our voices against you.
Note: The words "vulture" and "cannibal" in this article are used only as metaphors for those men who commit such horrific crimes. They do not refer to all men. One factual note before you publish.
