Just about everyone had something to say about Prime Minister Imran Khan’s victim-blaming comments, stating women’s clothes lead them to be raped. Yet, Federal Minister for Human Rights, Shireen Mazari held her silence.
Now actress Sanam Saeed is calling out Shireen Mazari to call out Imran Khan too. Commenting on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) member’s silence, Sanam asked her to ‘deliver a message to the prime minister‘.
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The Zindagi Gulzar Hai actress took to Twitter to say;
“Dear Shireen Mazari, please draw up a list for Imran Khan, of men, women and children raped everyday regardless of how they were dressed so that these outrageous and problematic statements are never made again.”
Dear @ShireenMazari1 please draw up a list for IK, of men, women and children raped everyday regardless of how they were dressed so that these outrageous and problematic statements are never made again.
— Sanam Saeed (@sanammodysaeed) June 23, 2021
Shireen Mazari & Calling Out Problematic Statements
Recently in his interview with Jonathan Swan, PM Imran Khan reiterated his stance that women’s clothing provokes men to rape and the Pakistani men are unable to control their temptations around those wearing ‘very few clothes‘.
People nationwide condemned the victim-blaming yet again. The last time Imran Khan made his regressive views known, the Federal Minister spoke out against victim-blaming.
She called on ‘women to be united and speak up about problematic statements’ made by others.
People expected Shireen Mazari to call out Imran Khan’s problematic statement again but she didn’t. She had no qualms calling him out last time, why the silence now?
Time 4 women of all shades to stand as one. Had enough of victim blaming/shaming, misogyny, GBV, child abuse. Also sick of men gesticulating & using public spaces to relieve themselves. The laws are all there – law enforcers shd do their job. Enough is enough.
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) April 9, 2021
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Pakistan’s Rape Rate Is Far Higher Than We Know
As for people trying to defend the Premier’s statement with ‘statistics on how rape rates are higher in the West’. People schooled these types with the number of instances in which harassment and rape go unreported in Pakistan because of the culture placing the blame on women.
Previously, social worker and PTI Member of National Assembly (MNA), Shandana Gulzar quoted research revealing 82% of rapists are the victim’s own family members in case of rape against women and minor girls.
اس خاتون نے وہ سب کہہ دیا کہ سر شرم سے جھک گیا تحریک انصاف کی رکن قومی اسمبلی شاندانہ گلزار نے ایک ریسرچ کے حوالے سے بتایا کہ ریپ کی شکار 82 فیصد بچیوں نے بتایا کہ انکے ساتھ زیادتی باپ،چچا،تایا،دادا،نانا اور ماموں نے کی سب سے پہلے یہ مسلئہ حل کرنے کی ضرورت ہے @ShandanaGulzar pic.twitter.com/SLySpXRKL1
— Hamid Mir حامد میر (@HamidMirPAK) September 14, 2020
In these instances, cases are not reported and these women are taken to illegal abortion clinics to prevent ‘bringing shame to the family.’ If Pakistan’s statistics don’t even account for over 80% of cases where does that place the rape rate of the country?
