Nobody is unfamiliar with the state of women’s empowerment in Pakistan, and this is reflected in the experiences and incidents that we witness on a daily basis. However, there is further controversy surrounding the proportion of these incidents that are reported and gain media attention versus those that are kept quiet. The recent road incident that occurred and gained national and worldwide attention was not the first and probably won’t be the last.
Even though it’s true that hostile and unfavourable conditions prevent women and other rights organisations from speaking up, this was seen when the Aurat March was threatened and its organisers faced legal challenges across the nation. However, the idea of taking a selective approach in women’s advocacy that undermines the cause of women’s empowerment is rarely addressed or explored.
The case of Momal Meghwar in Thar Sindh during the same month of September serves as a fitting illustration of this reality. Momal’s situation was similar to the motorway incident, but there wasn’t enough controversy in Pakistani intelligentsia circles or the mainstream media.
The horrific aspect of this case is that the little girl was raped by three people in July of last year. Her father filed a report with the local police station against the perpetrators, who were from the same village. However, due to police inaction and the victim’s lack of resources, the case was not properly presented in court, and the accused was able to obtain bail and proceed with the case. Additionally, the coronavirus caused the trial to be postponed. In addition to successfully obtaining bail, the powerful offenders blackmailed the victim until she killed herself earlier this month by plunging into the village well.
Numerous more occurrences also support this theory, even though this particular event is not the only one. The country’s metropolitan centres are the sole locations for Aurat Marches, and the rural women who suffer the most are not represented. However, it is also important to note that many women from the oppressed classes participated in the Sukkur march, which is commendable on the side of the organisers. This is supported by the observation that, due to the predominance of lower-caste Hindus in the lower Sindh region, many forced conversion incidents involving minority girls in Sindh go unreported.
In addition, there has been a rise in female suicides in lower Sindh in recent years, which calls for the attention of decision-makers and those in positions of authority. Finally, it is imperative that we discuss this topic because it is in the best interests of women and other rights organisations to ensure that their advocacy does not alienate anyone and that any negative perceptions are dispelled because this could be detrimental to their efforts and struggles.
