A step backward into “Barbarism”
By Saleem Khan • Jun 26th, 2008 • Category: Politics, Worth A Second Look • 6 Comments •Barbarism, the condition to which a society or civilization may be reduced after a societal collapse, relative to an earlier period of cultural or technological advancement; the term may also be used pejoratively to describe another society or civilization which is deemed inferior in some way.
Are we still living in an age of barbarism or stepping backward into Barbarism? An age when daughters were buried alive, women were always considered as sex tool and baby producing machines, ladies were used as tissue paper and being insulted at every step of life. I read an extremely painful news in the newspaper on murder of mother after she gave birth to her daughter in this Man-Made society. A society where women are still searching a place for their survival.
The murder the other day of a young woman in the town of Lalamusa in Punjab, by her husband, his father and a brother, for the ‘crime’ of giving birth to a daughter is the latest proof of this. It seems that there has been no progress since the time before the advent of Islam, when people put female babies to death. It seems the process of Islamisation has had no impact on determining how people act. The horrendous act of violence, with the mother shot dead soon after she had given birth, shows we still live in an age of barbarism. The teachings of religion and of humanity have no impact. While the police have registered a case against the three men allegedly guilty of the killing, they remain for the present on the run. The fate of the girl child is not clear. Even if she has not been harmed, her future seems bleak.
While this incident is an extreme one, the fact is that across the country, women suffer and are mistreated for bearing daughters. Ignorance about biology, in believing mothers determine the gender of babies born to them, is a part of the reason for this. Other factors are the continued perception of girls as inferior or a burden on their families. Studies show that this also results in girls being offered a less nutritious diet than their brothers and on less being spent on their education and health care. The higher death rate for infant girls is one of the reasons why they are marginally more men than women in Pakistan’s population of 160 million – a trend that reverses the general pattern seen around the world.
It seems obvious that while progress has been made in terms of education for women and awareness about their rights, a great deal more needs to be done. The government must work with specialists in the private sector, including NGOs and public welfare organizations, so that incidents of the kind reported from Lalamusa no longer take place anywhere in Pakistan.
Reference: The News and Wikipedia.
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Sir, Saleem Sahib, welcome back to reality; we have never totally come out of that stage in development of human civilization. In our society, if not as whole, a large segment of it does treat our women as piece of personal property. Yes, there has been some progress made, but unfortunately it has been a case of ‘one step forward and two back’. Why is it so, because we live with it and allow this in the name of ‘family honour’ and whatever. You recommend more involvement of NGO’s, it will be nice but it will only be possible when we as people would unitedly stand up against all such evils; this is not isolated cases of crimes these are common practice in many many parts of our society. You will be “not” so “pleased” to hear (may be you are aware of it already) a while back in not too distant past, when these concerned, and courageous women with some NGO’s were approaching our women in some areas in NWFP - some political mullahs (I forget the names, were not so obscure ones) went around giving this “Fatwah” that it was alright to take these NGO women and forceably “marry” them (”marry” them!). Saleem Bhai, this is not just law enforcement problem, we all must systematically fight these evil doers.
People around world think that USA is the best civilization, but we see worst position of human rights approach.
Saleem
those who claimed that Pakistan is heading towards progress is living in fools world.Our civilised culture just live or survive in some major cities,otherwise if you go to just 20 miles away from main cities, you can see many acts of barbarism or stone age mentality ruling there.The tragedy actually begins from our parliment where people come and talk of democratic reforms but when they go back to their constituency, they act like monsters there or you can say promote barbarism culture in their respective areas.Punjab is heading fast as compared to other provinces to get rid of such culture but life style of southern punjab is pathetic and no body can dare to challenge the makhdooms, khars , quershis,legaris for their state of terror in that areas.
You have mentioned just a minor incident of our dummy civilised culture, latest example of harassement of women voters in maluna fazalur rehman area in this election is another piece of stone age act from our ever green parliment character.
Nazia, my sweet sister. Your observation and comments always makes me proud that Pakistan have such intelligent and realistic lady. Keep it up. You said in south punjab, I say in Army House even. He gave once statement that these bloody ladies do drama for getting USA nationality. When you have such rulers them how we can expect good from others.
Hina
I really didnt mind his vision about the ordinary women becuase at this moment he was trying his best to save the character of one captian in bugti area.In drunken state or in normal way he actually showed his real mentality so at least he was not hypocrat at that moment but the actual problem are his followers who still forcing us to acknowledge him as the most modern, enlightened and liberal leaders of Pakistan .So in another way think he might advising our Pakistani women to get raped through any officers and get visa free for US.US mangement surely support and help those women if they comply according to the advise of enlightened US partener.
Thanks a lot for your positive comments. Keep commenting because these comments are precious for every reader.