Brave Khadija

Justice is an elusive concept in our country, particularly when the accused person has influence and power. Khadija Siddiqui, 23 years old when she was stabbed at least 23 times in Lahore last year, has shown however that persevering within the system and demanding a basic right can sometimes bring you the justice you seek. Perhaps her courageous example will act as an inspiration for others. Khadija, a law student, was brutally attacked by a classmate Shah Hussain in May 2016 as she collected her younger sister, aged 7, from school. The reasons for the assault are unknown and Khadija has stated she herself had no idea why she was targeted. All this is however irrelevant. The point is that a young woman was nearly put to death in broad daylight and the culprit, identified by many, was able to escape justice for many months. The influence his father holds within judicial circles may be a factor in this. Apart from undergoing a vicious character assassination, Khadija was forced to sit a law exam in the same hall as her assailant, adding to her mental agony.

Khadija’s brave and unrelenting campaign against the lack of justice and her calls to all victims to speak out in similar cases, combined with her lawyers’ determination and the media’s role in raising the issue, seem to have finally led to a just end. On Saturday, Shah Hussain was finally sentenced to seven years in jail by a judicial magistrate. We have had similar fights for justice in the past. The case of Mukhtaran Mai comes to mind. So do the cases of victims attacked with acid and others who have suffered terrible violence. We know however, that especially in the case of young women, too few speak out or navigate the difficult corridors of our flawed justice system. Simply being asked to repeat the details of their ordeal over and over again by often unsympathetic lawyers can be difficult to handle. So can the insinuations and whispered remarks which come along the way. For these reasons many families back away. Khadija’s decision not to do so must be appreciated. Her assailant is behind bars. She has some element of peace. And this is all because this brave young woman refused to cower in silence. Perhaps Khadija’s determination will persuade others to not permit those guilty of violent offences to get away and we will move closer to a fair and equitable system of justice in the country.