‘Women who defy patriarchal codes pay for it with their lives’

Activists, civil society representatives come together to condemn Qandeel Baloch’s
murder and the official apathy creating more room for violence against women

Karachi

It seemed just another day as, with daylight bidding adieu to the city, people flocked to the gardens of the majestic Frere Hall. 

However, unlike other days, the curiosity of the people arriving at Frere Hall on Saturday was piqued by a group of young women and men who, armed with placards denouncing the very concept of honour killings, were chanting slogans against the ruthless murder of social media celebrity, Qandeel Baloch.

Killed on the notorious pretext of ‘honour’, Qandeel was strangled to death by her brother at their family residence in Multan, adding more fuel to the fiery debate about oppression of women in Pakistan. 

The protest initiated by ‘Girls At Dhabas’ was joined in by activists from the National Students Federation, Karachi and civil society representatives, who first chose to hold a vigil in front of the building before heading to the steps facing the main road. 

After observing a moment of silence for the deceased – a popular figure with millions of followers on social media platforms – the group holding placards raised slogans against the patriarchal setup of our society and the manner in which it makes justice for women virtually impossible to achieve. 

Among the messages inscribed on the placards were strong words calling for an end to the barbaric practice of honour killings, a practice which tragically seems to be gaining more traction due to the inaction of our executive, judiciary and law enforcers. 

Laila Raza, an organiser for the NSF’s Karachi University unity, called out, “Izzat nahi, insaan hai aurat.” Before heading out towards the road, the protesters sat in a circle to reflect on the tragic demise of Qandeel Baloch, as Laila Raza read out a famous poem by Kishwer Naheed ‘Hum Gunahgaar Aurten’ which highlights the plight of all those who choose to forge their own identity and fight for their rights. 

The onlookers, who seemed perplexed by this development, could not refrain from getting involved with the protest and condemned the murder. 

“This act has to be condemned because what was the need to take her life? I fail to understand why humans have taken up the responsibility to play God,” said Rehana, who had come to the park with her family. 

Given that there were some who justified the act, a couple standing close by commented that no matter what she did, she didn’t deserve this: “Where was the honour when she was being oppressed? I do feel that we don’t hold models in high regard, but killing a woman because she got popular is indeed upsetting.” 

Representing ‘Girls At Dhabas’, Natasha Ansari stressed that the media should have played a responsible role to, perhaps, avert this episode. “I think it is necessary to speak out about the moral and ethical responsibilities of the mainstream media, particularly because in an inept state like ours where taking someone’s life is not at all difficult, the media’s responsibility is quadrupled.” 

“It was not prudent to bring out the personal details of Qandeel Baloch and it was done so without her consent. I think with this incident, it is high time that the media outlets realise that there is more to just profits.” 

Laila Raza pointed out that delayed justice and the state failure’s to pursue such barbaric acts of violence had paved the way for people to take lives with impunity. “There must be justice for Qandeel Baloch and the countless other women who have lost their lives for ‘honour’. The silence of our people and the failings of our courts are encouraging such brutalities. The state needs to own these women and focus on effective steps or else we’ll keep mourning one woman after the other who falls prey to our rigid patriarchal mindset.” 

“Why is that we only see women being killed in the name of honour. The idea of attaching women with honour is troublesome because it is about time we realise that a woman is as much an individual as any man.”

Pointing out that Qandeel was killed because she was fearless and undeterred, Fatema Shah, another protestor, said that such cases will lead to more violence because now women will resort to taking up weapons to protect themselves. 

“I live in a place where my mere existence is rebellion and I think I too have become fearless. Qandeel was a woman and that is solely why she was murdered. It is simply because women are not allowed to exist outside the timid roles defined for them. You break the code of men and you pay for it with your life.” 

Quoting Habib Jalib’s famous couplet “Tujh say pehle jo yahan aik takht-nasheen tha/Us ko bhi khuda honay ka itna he yaqeen tha”, she raised another slogan – ‘Quaid hai, aurat quaid hai’ – which epitomises the hope that, someday, women of Pakistan will be given the status they truly deserve.