There are at least 11 rape cases reported in Pakistan every day with over 22,000 rape cases reported to the police across the country within the last six years, according to official statistics. However, only 77 accused have been convicted which comprise 0.3% of the total figure. Sexual assault is a prominent issue which has prevailed from the beginning of time. However even though over the years the victims have found their voice and attempt to confront their r*pists it doesn’t always have a positive outcome.
When the people of Pakistan voted for an Oxford graduate with a privileged upbringing, their expectations were extremely high. However, the authorities in this country never fail to disappoint the public, in fact it’s probably the only thing which they can excel in. Recently Imran Khan, the prime minister of Pakistan initiated a live call where he answered several questions brought in by the citizens of his country. During this, when he was questioned about the efforts of his team against the rise in abuse faced by women and children, his response was fahashi(vulgarity) within today’s society and proceeded with blaming the victims choice of attire. Without a doubt, these statements resulted in outrage against the prime minister’s apologist mindset and a protest erupted demanding a public apology.
(Trigger Warning: Mentions of abuse)
What Imran Khan refused to comprehend and acknowledge is that Pakistan is a country which is not immune to all kinds of oppression and abuse against various entities. This is a country where every act of violence by men is excused and sheltered behind the ignorance of religion by the victims. In Pakistan men annihilate each and every boundary by r*ping women, children, animals and even corpses. Amongst numerous other children, Zainab Ansari, a six year old child was sexually violated and murdered, in Lahore a kitten was gangraped to death by a 15 year old boy and his friends; even the deceased struggle to find peace in this God forsaken country where men dig up graves to sexually abuse corpses.
The question which begs to be answered after this is: What is the reason behind this heinous crime? Because it is not clothing, vulgarity or temptation and neither is it age, race or gender. The only reason of r*pe is a r*pist and r*pe apologists like Imran Khan, who despite years of education lacks basic morals. It is absolutely disgusting to instill the belief that pleasure is forcing yourself upon another person and that the reason this occurs is anything other than a r*pists sick mindset.
You might think that in a country so “pure” abuse survivors have a voice and sympathy but it is in fact the very opposite. The reason why so many r*pe cases go unreported are because of beliefs which plague our society which authorities like Imran Khan have engraved into the minds of uneducated, privileged and misogynistic citizens. Before the victim is consoled about their abuse they are asked about their whereabouts and shamed for their clothing and many are halted from taking legal action because their trauma reflects shame upon their family. If you are deluded enough to blame anyone but the r*pist then you are indeed a shame and a disgrace for having a mindset which prohibits trauma victims from coming to you for support.
The problematic statements given by our beloved prime minister, Imran Khan, have no excuse and continue to cause unrest within the country. The future of the people in this country who now openly excuse r*pe by victim blaming, is truly only in the hands of God himself.
