Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Sharmila Faruqi is appalled by the content of Hum TV’s drama serial ‘Laapata‘.
The politician slammed the insensitivity towards incidents of ‘harassment’ in the drama. Laapata showcased a scene with Ayeza Khan’s character ‘Geeti’ accusing a shopkeeper of harassment in order to get free stuff. Naturally, this didn’t sit well with Netizens.
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Now even Sharmila Faruqi is addressing how problematic this is. She questioned, in a country like Pakistan where harassment is endemic, why is a drama serial depicting it as a blackmailing tool?
“Appalled to see Pakistani drama ‘Laapata’ depicting ‘harassment’ as a blackmailing tool by women. Harassment is real, hurtful & destructive! It’s not comics!”
Appalled 2 c Pakistani drama ‘laapata’ depicting ‘harassment’ as a blackmailing tool by women. Harassment is real, hurtful & destructive! It’s not comics! It’s time we showed seriousness 2 issues faced by our women. It’s destroys you.. pic.twitter.com/uIUJ41x7K2
— Dr. Sharmila sahibah faruqui (Phd) s.i (@sharmilafaruqi) July 30, 2021
She called for everyone to take issues faced by women seriously. She then called for Pakistani dramas to;
“take responsibility for such poor depiction of real-time issues being faced by women across the country.”
Netizens lauded the PPP leader for addressing problematic depictions in drama serials.
Yes it's not a joke 🤬
— Nabiha G.H Mughal🦄 (@gmughal98) July 30, 2021
it’s a trauma that remains active for the life time of the victim, harassment is not something to make joke out of it
— grs. 🇵🇸🤲 (@ever_golden) July 30, 2021
People called out actors that agree to partake in such scenes and drama serials.
Absolutely. What I am more appalled to see is that actors have agreed to act on such a problematic script. As woman, they should be responsible.
— Areesha (@AreeshaPervez) July 30, 2021
Others called for the television channel to be reprimanded.
Hum TV already crossed there limits should be banned not in this
— Khurram Khalid (@khurramkhld) July 30, 2021
People pointed out that while the anti-sexual harassment law is exploited much like many other laws in Pakistan, highlighting nominal incidents negates real victims.
Writer will say that this happens in real life. Means fake harassment accusations…
— Mohidin (@MughalHamHarHas) July 30, 2021
https://twitter.com/Sajjad2018/status/1421012172595994627
Sharmila Faruqi did not deny that the law isn’t exploited, yet that’s not why she’s objecting to Laapata. She pointed out how in a patriarchal society where women struggle for fundamental rights, highlighting exceptions draws attention away from the norm. A norm that needs to change for the security of women.
Examples of such arguments used to dismiss harassment are common enough.
difference between flirt n harassment
if u r handsome its flirt
if u r ugly its harassment— Ahmedkhan (@majestickhan) July 30, 2021
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There’s a reason why crimes against women are rampant in Pakistan. Whether it’s ‘male-only’ job listings or honor killings, oppression of women is systemic. Check out this thread for links to detailed research reports on how oppressed women really are in Pakistan.
2/ In fact yet another index measuring 11 similar indicators,including societal and legal discrimination,community safety and IPV,found Pakistan to rank 164 out of 167 countries.
WPS-Index-2019-20-Report.pdf (https://t.co/XwtKcOllQA)— toofani-badtameezi (@thesedcat) March 9, 2021
4/ The 2017/18 DHS for Pakistan revealed 28% of women aged 15-49 had experienced physical violence by a huband/stranger.
40% men and 42% women agree wife beating is acceptable under certain circumstances.The proportion of such men is an increase from 34% in 2013. pic.twitter.com/AjBLS9CGuI— toofani-badtameezi (@thesedcat) March 9, 2021
9/ Violence against women is so commomplace here that Lisa Hajjar,in her article on DV in muslim societies categorises abuse against women in Pak to be “endemic in all social spheres”.
Yes,even “DHA privileged liberal aunties that aren’t the *real suffering women* “are not immune— toofani-badtameezi (@thesedcat) March 9, 2021
So do you think it’s okay to showcase harassment allegations as a blackmail tool in a country where women already struggle for the fundamental right of safety and security? Let us know in the comments below.
