Daily Times

History is a great teacher. Buried between the pulverulent layers of the past there are lessons for all the nations in the world. Then there are certain themes that are true, almost universally, for all the countries of the world. One of them, glaringly visible and easily understandable is the link between the progress of a society and the extent of ignorance and violence in the society and the level at which its common man stands. If we continue to cling to life the same way we did when negligence, hatred and savagery run amok, rest assured we cannot progress at any other level. For a society to grow, the individuals comprising it should grow first.

A brutal and shameful incident which took place recently in Pakistani village, echoed the past; Mukhtaran Mai, killing of a 16 year old in a village in Abbottabad, Farzana Parveen who was stoned to death and many more. The essence of the evil bears a striking commonality. The incident involved a girl being stripped naked and then paraded in a village. This mortifying ordeal continued for 2 hours until the girl was able to run to her uncle’s house where she was given some clothes to cover herself.

A revolting act. The very concept of innocence mauled by violent, virile and virulent animals of the so called patriarchy. For what? For their self-made, pathetic and hollow honour? Time and again such acts serve like a smoke signal in a thick dark forest ridden with beasts and monsters. We should take a hint; interpret these signs and rush to solve them before it is too late.

Until the issue of such violence against women is not resolved, we will never be able to address the other problems in this country. Everything emanates from an individual. Until or unless the individual is tamed and trained, until the people aren’t converted into human capital. How can we think to sally-forth?

Until the issue of culturally-sanctioned violence against women is not resolved, we will never be able to address the other problems in this country

The common man needs to be lifted from this abyss of parochialism and ignorance and placed in the real world. Wherein, they can strive for real honour.

Fiefdom and peasants terrified by their feudal lords. These summon images from bygone times. The world has changed, and it continues to change. Why do we remain trapped in the past?

We suffer from the curse of the abstract. Myopic debates, useless idealistic discussions, system changes and reforms, but only discussions. Only letters and no spirit. What is required, direly and urgently, is a practical, pragmatic approach. It was Mashal Khan before, it is this innocent girl today. How many more will it take to kindle the flame of change? To free ourselves from these shackles, to allow the air of imagination and contemplation into our minds, to let our soul breath?

The world is forging ahead in all spheres of life and Pakistan continues to regress. Who knows how many more incidences carrying similar ignominy, similar shame and in many cases, even death, have happened in our country? Shame on such an honour! This word needs to be forgotten, prohibited and known and read and understood once again! Only to be used in its true sense.

Last year a report from Human rights Commission revealed that nearly 1,100 women were killed in the name of honour. Another 900 women suffered sexual violence and nearly 800 took, or tried to take, their own lives. And the violence shows no sign of stopping.

While thinking of honour, consider the following facts. Our passport ranks the second worse for international travelling (worse than Afghanistan second to Somalia). We have the second highest out of school children in the world. Pakistan stands on 17th position in the fragile state index. It secured second last place in the gender gap index putting it at 143rd place out of 144 countries.

There are many more. But isn’t it enough to stir and shake one’s soul and mind. To try to discern the true meaning of honour. It is in the improvement of our international standing, ideological image, cultural influence and soft power that our honour resides. Not in these self-created, pathetic practices. Not in this unnecessary and senseless demonstration of toxic masculinity. There are umpteen avenues to showcase your strength. Make sure doing so is beneficial for the society and the country.

The Jirga and Panchayat are systems of a bygone era. They should be obliterated. In what times do we live? The argument for preserving our tradition and culture can only be related in a risible manner here. There are, certainly and evidently, many other things to preserve!

The writer is a student of International Relations with interest in International Political Economy. He can be reached at osamarizvi10@hotmail. com

Published in Daily Times, November 22^nd 2017.