Daily Times

In the year 2017, the World Economic Forum released its indexes on gender equality and it ranked Pakistan the second worst in terms of gender equality. Rightly, when we look around, we observe this reality as women are looked down upon by our society. They are kept within the four walls and denied their basic rights of education and employment, let alone taking them to the forums of public debate or literary discourse.

But Ibrahim Arman Loni, allegedly beaten to death by an Assistant Superintendent of the Police in Loralai, swam against the tide. He worked in coal mines and mastered tailoring to provide his family a square meal. He continued his studies while strenuously working to meet ends. Resultantly, he did his masters in Pashto and qualified the commission exam of lectureship.

According to his kith and kin, he had two wishes in life. One, to witness Pushtuns progress as other communities of the country. And two, to educate his sister WarangaLoni. He was a great supporter of women education and their participation in social and political gatherings. He would take Waranga Loni to literary forums where poetry and declamation contests would take place. Besides, he also encouraged Waranga Loni to participate in political rallies organised by Pushtun Tahaffuz Movement.

In the year 2017, the World Economic Forum released its indexes on gender equality and it ranked Pakistan the second worst in terms of gender equality.

This was a cultural shock for the residents of Sanjawi which was the siblings’ native town. Arman’s support for Waranga Loni did not go down well with the local Nawabs, who questioned his unconventional approach. Consequently, he had to leave his native town and he shifted his family to Loralai. There, he furthered his efforts to educate his only sister.

Arman was also a vital part of PTM as he would organise all its events. He was a member of the PTM’s core committee. Thus, he would travel all the way from Loralaiin Baluchistan to places like Karachi, Peshawar, Swat and Bannu to attend PTM rallies. But he never came alone, he was always accompanied by Waranga Loni. People would sometimes deride him but he would tolerate their taunts. And he never reacted angrily to the expletives hurled at him.  He would just smile in return.

Such an example of challenging patriarchy in today’s Pakistan can rarely be witnessed. Arman was a sophisticated man who preached the lesson of love and peace all his life. People of his caliber are out of the ordinary. After years, such invaluable people come to the fore. But we are such an ungrateful people that we don’t cherish their existence. Instead, we shed tears when these individuals leave us forever.

Today Arman Loni isn’t among us but he has given us a great message of considering the opposite gender as equal. He defied the conventional mindset through his exceptional support for WarangaLoni’s social and political journey. Today his family members are aggrieved. To add insult to their injury, it has been several days and not even an FIR has been registered against those responsible for Arman’s murder. The state should respond to the grievances of Arman’s family so that somehow their wounds can be bandaged. Ultimately, he was someone who defeated patriarchy and contributed in laying the foundation of a judicious and a tolerant society.

The writer can be contacted at asifmahsud44 @yahoo.com

Published in Daily Times, February 7^th 2019.