Following the mob assault of a woman at Lahore’s Minar-e-Pakistan, the Punjab Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) imposed a ban on the entry of TikTokers into all public parks.
The decision was taken during a meeting of PHA officials held in Lahore on Sunday. In a statement, the PHA announced that all Tiktokers have to take permission from the concerned authority for the entrance in parks.
Moreover, the PHA is also considering a ban on the entrance of more than two men in public parks.
The ban was imposed a week after the harassment incident that took place at Minar-e-Pakistan where a TikToker named Ayesha Akram was groped and assaulted by more than 400 men on Independence Day.
According to the reports, the police have so far arrested 130 people and identified 40 of them through videos of the incident.
Netizens react to the ban following the Minar-e-Pakistan assault case
The news has sparked more fury among the nation. Rather than fixing the judicial system of the country and punish the culprits for their heinous crime, the authorities have once again resorted to a ban. One Twitter user wrote,
“Ban tiktok because PTA is unable to regulate & consult with other stakeholders. Ban tiktokers entry into public parks because Govt has failed to prevent violence against women. We are a censor happy nation or maybe a blanket ban is the easiest solution for Govt to hide its failures.”
https://twitter.com/AasmaQamer/status/1429741057609248768
https://twitter.com/SabaHyder1/status/1429738264957759493
These incidents usually happen in rushy areas. Obviously, this would be a stupid decision if govt put a ban on tiktokers entry in the parks. We need rule of law noting else. Govt should set an example by punishing the arrested harraser.
— راؤ سمیر (@raosameerpk) August 22, 2021
If our state could just once reflect on the fact that to change the narrative this society need reforms and awareness and stop opting for short term solutions like “banning tiktokers” in a public space. If you really want to ban someone ban MEN.
— K 🍉 (@BanoYaarBasKar) August 23, 2021
However, Azhar Mashwani announced that the ban has not been imposed yet and deemed it as ‘fake news’. He reported that TikTok is currently banned in Pakistan.
Fake News
No such decision taken so far by Govt
Currently TikTok is banned in Pakistan https://t.co/W64ZUPgksb
— Azhar Mashwani (@MashwaniAzhar) August 23, 2021
Do you think that banning TikTokers into public places will prevent the crime? Let us know in the comments.
