Women’s safety has become a serious concern in Pakistan that needs to be addressed, with terrible cases of gendered violence coming up frequently in the news. A country can never progress if its women are unable to feel safe in their own homes or workplaces. Most of the time, these atrocities against women are justified by infusing them with religious and cultural connotations. However, it must be noted that there is no culture or religion in the world that promotes gender-based killings. If anything, these ‘justifications’ only reflect a disturbing and problematic mindset. Awareness campaigns should be launched to emphasise that this must stop. I urge the authorities to take serious action against the criminals and introduce laws that ensure women’s safety and security.
Zohaib Ali
Karachi
