Articles and letters may be edited for the purposes of clarity and space. They are published in good faith with a view to enlightening all the stakeholders. However, the contents of these writings may not necessarily match the views of the newspaper.
Increasing
rape cases
Rape is a global problem and according to World Health Organization (WHO), every one in three women suffer from physical or sexual violence at some stage in their life. Pakistan is facing increased incidents of rape and this is creating a sense of insecurity among women. Punjab province, being the major province of Pakistan by population, has recorded more cases of rape than any other province.
Regardless of several government and non-government efforts, such as Punjab Protection of Women against Violence Act (PPWVA), a massive increase in crime rate was witnessed in 2019, and the first seven months of 2020 saw 3,885 cases of rape, 1361 cases of child abuse, 1768 cases of violence against women, 12,650 cases of kidnapping of women and 213 cases of honour killing in Punjab. The number of cases aforementioned, does not truly reflect the actual number of cases because most of the cases go unregistered owing to many factors, sometimes families avoiding to get them registered for family’s honour. In the face of such an increase in crime rate, we all need to do some brainstorming with an intent to bring down the number of such cases, if we cannot eliminate them in-toto.
MALIK JAVED JABBAR
Kashmore
Rape culture trauma
It is ok to listen to the news but it’s upsetting to listen the same news on daily basis that makes you feel scary and worried. I don’t know why but people don’t understand this fact that when women and girls read and hear about rape, gang rape, sexual harassment, honor killing and continuous victim blaming, it builds up a kind of trauma in our mind that’s scares us and we start visualizing things like those women could be us or our loved ones. I know I’m not alone in this; every girl around me may have the same thoughts.
Many people talk about their journeys and lifestyles and about the times that they have gone alone on road trips, travelled all alone and slept in their cars, parks hotels and hostels. And yes we all know that they have such freedom to be alone sometimes. And what about a woman, she is not allowed to travel at night, why she traveled without her man, why is she taking her kids with her and many more. We continuously blame the victims and survivors, who are being raped, murdered and burnt so badly and found somewhere in unrecognizable condition.
Rape culture is actually social environment that is allowing the sexual violence to be normalized and justified and blaming the victims. Rape is not the fault of survivors or victims. Instead of teaching women to change their appearance and behaviors in order to not get raped, teach men not to rape and respect women. For this we need to reform the societal behavior over this disease that cannot be cured automatically.
ALMAS INDHER
Panoakil, Sukkur
Stop cruelty
to animals
With the passage of time, foreign countries are developing with a great speed and gaining right knowledge of spreading love with human plus animals. But to say the development of our country as being Muslim, we lack good relationships with the animals that have no power to express their feelings to us besides sounding sad voices of pains. Everyday, I find lots of injustice with animals in social media and every day I pray for our citizens to feel what wrong they are doing.
The actual reason of beating animals is just a temporary internal happiness, what will happen if you all don’t get these temporary happinesses for beating animals. It is clear that show goodness to animals is to get happiness forever. There are thousands of people in the world who keep dangerous pets in their homes such as lions, tigers and crocodile, the reason is just showing sympathy and love. According to a law, “Every action has a reaction”. Do good and have good, thus do good to animals, get love and happiness from them in return. At last, it is requested to everyone of you, stop beating animals for your short-term happiness and love them to have a reason to feel best happiness.
ADNAN MAQSOOD
Turbat
Esra Bilgic
Esra Bilgic is an actress who played very impressive role in well-known drama Ertugrul Gazi which has stolen show all over the world. The protagonist’s partner who is named Halime has swooped into Pakistan. A Seljuk worrier, a brave and a righteous character, valiantly vanquished villain, caring mother, sister and wife above all love interest of Ertugrul shows her talent to her best.
Pakistanis are totally smitten with princess Halime and are keen to see her in Pakistan as soon as possible. She is sweetheart of Pakistanis now (including myself) while sitting 3,000 miles away. Her name being ubiquitous, has won the hearts of her fans by making herself sincere and honest wife as Muslim woman should be. She looked attractive in traditional headgear which has been followed by many Pakistani girls. Esra Bilgic instagram account has boomed with comments of Pakistanis complimenting on her modern dresses since drama was telecast on PTV. She posted a picture with “Hijaab” because of being criticised.
She also reached out for condolence of one of the victims of PIA crashed flight PK8303 fashion model Zara Abid who once complimented on her modern picture. She said while talking with interviewer, “I felt very happy and lucky when Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan suggested the Pakistanis to watch this historical drama. If Coronavirus did not come up, I would have been to Pakistan several times”. I want to suggest our Pakistani scriptwriters that we must produce such type of dramas on Islamic history as audience want. Pakistan had produced on Islamic history in the past before this Turkish drama was telecast. Being Islamic Republic our writers must bend themselves down to write historical dramas that lead our youth towards of Islam.
MUHAMMAD SIKANDAR
Via email
PIA: Unions matter
In the past the success of Air Marshal Nur Khan in raising PIA to the highest level was done with the cooperation and help of the Unions and Associations. No other formula will work in the long run. Baseless fake licenses issues, tragic incident of flight PK-8303 Airbus 320 aircraft, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) ban have established the fact that PIA management miserably failed to revive the airline. In this whole drama, the regulator Civil Aviation Authority is completely out of the picture.
CAA has not made a single statement regarding the list nor the suspension of its officers and clerks in the suspicious license scandal. CAA being the sole issuer of licenses after proper tests and flying skill tests endorses all licenses. Instead of taking advantage of professional acumen and advice of pilots, management derecognized PALPA and banned it. It is against the law since out rightly blame or ban such a legally constituted body is tantamount to violation of the Constitution of Pakistan. Furthermore, such Associations are internationally approved by ILO which is a body of the United Nations. Moreover, Article-17 of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan gives the right for a working body in an industry to form an Association/Union to look after the welfare and other facilities of the members. Constructive approach and the Working Agreement between the management and the Pakistan Air Lines Pilot Association (PALPA) is the only tried out method to revive the ailing airline.
CAPT (RTD) HADI RIZIV
Via email
