New York Times again goes out to help Dr.Shazia of Pakistan
Since the publication of the two Nicholas Kristof columns in the New York Times on Shazia, there has been an outpouring of sympathy and support for her from around the world. From Pakistan there has been just one message, from India none
When is Gen Pervez Musharraf going to realise that the great disadvantage of authoritarian rule is that the man in authority is held responsible for everything that goes wrong. What goes right is neither noticed nor acknowledged. The shattering case of the young Sindhi doctor Shazia Khalid and the manner in which she was dealt with has brought dishonour to Pakistan and a bad name to Mr Pakistan.
First, the facts: Shazia was raped. Who her assailant was has not been determined. The crude attempts by the local administration and the army to sweep the crime under the carpet failed. The stealthy manner in which Shazia was removed to Karachi, kept under confinement for two months and then put on a London-bound plane leaves no room for according the government the benefit of the doubt. Some heads should roll in Pakistan. Let enlightened moderation by demonstrated in deed not words. Especially contemptible have been attempts by certain agencies and agents to spread scandalous stories about Shazia. Even today, Mrs Anis Haroon from Karachi, who helped Shazia and remains in touch with her, is followed wherever she goes and harassed otherwise. Who are these people and on whose behalf are they acting, and why?
Shazia and her husband are in London. What a shame that they have had to leave their own country to find shelter in an alien one! She has been helped by the US-based group AANA, which is made up of Pakistani professionals, mostly doctors. The countrywide organisation of Pakistani doctors, APPNA, has yet to do anything to help. Nor has any gesture of sympathy come from any of those hundreds of Pakistani millionaires, whose generosity is mostly aimed at their own person and family. A fabulously rich Pakistani in Canada who is always going on about national honour and Islam sank into silence since I asked him to make a gift of money to Shazia.
Since the publication of the two Nicholas Kristof columns in the New York Times on Shazia, there has been an outpouring of sympathy and support for her from around the world. From Pakistan there has been just one message, from India none. People have written to President Musharraf and the Canadian government has been asked by many to grant Shazia the asylum that she seeks. Two Canadian immigration lawyers have offered to take up her case free of charge. Some money has also been sent by New York Times readers and more will surely follow. One American woman writes, I am appalled at the way she was forced to leave her country and then left helpless and isolated in the United Kingdom. This crime and the cover-up have struck at the heart of humanity. I demand justice for female victims of violence in Pakistan. One message says, I am a poor man, but I will be happy to contribute a small sum. Fight the good fight Dr Shazia.
One woman writes, It must be so difficult for you right now, but try to think of how much good you are doing in the face of so much pain. You will heal, and you will fully realise that you have not lost any honour, only gained even more than you had before. Another woman writes, You are an inspiration, and a Godsend to other women who have been victims or who may become victims in the future. An American student in London says, I cant offer much, but would be happy to bring over a home-cooked meal and be a friend. A woman from Honolulu writes, Aloha, I am glad to hear that you have gone public with this humiliation. No woman should be treated the way you were. Another young London student says, Let me know what I can do! Do you or your husband need groceries, medicine or anything? Take care! A woman from St Louis writes to say that she was also a rape victim and asks Shazia to stay strong so that you can help other women who suffer. You also bring me strength. May God be with you.
Several letters have appeared in the New York Times. One rape victim tells Shazia, Rape will hurt anyone it touches and will corrupt any society that condones it, ignores it or victimises the survivor. Rape is not about sex; it is about power. One woman from New York writes, Dr Shazia was forced to quit Pakistan with dire warnings. She did not seem to get any support from the intellectuals, human rights groups and news media in Pakistan for her refusal to cower in the face of blatant injustice. A woman from California says, The world must support truth tellers. To fail to support Dr Shazia is to side with her persecutors. A woman writing from Tel Aviv tells Shazia, I had tears in my eyes when I read Kristofs column about the Pakistani rape victim. I, too, am a rape victim.
I think it is incumbent on Pakistan and its people to reclaim their daughter and bring her home from her exile with honour and love.
When is Gen Pervez Musharraf going to realise that the great disadvantage of authoritarian rule is that the man in authority is held responsible for everything that goes wrong. What goes right is neither noticed nor acknowledged. The shattering case of the young Sindhi doctor Shazia Khalid and the manner in which she was dealt with has brought dishonour to Pakistan and a bad name to Mr Pakistan.
First, the facts: Shazia was raped. Who her assailant was has not been determined. The crude attempts by the local administration and the army to sweep the crime under the carpet failed. The stealthy manner in which Shazia was removed to Karachi, kept under confinement for two months and then put on a London-bound plane leaves no room for according the government the benefit of the doubt. Some heads should roll in Pakistan. Let enlightened moderation by demonstrated in deed not words. Especially contemptible have been attempts by certain agencies and agents to spread scandalous stories about Shazia. Even today, Mrs Anis Haroon from Karachi, who helped Shazia and remains in touch with her, is followed wherever she goes and harassed otherwise. Who are these people and on whose behalf are they acting, and why?
Shazia and her husband are in London. What a shame that they have had to leave their own country to find shelter in an alien one! She has been helped by the US-based group AANA, which is made up of Pakistani professionals, mostly doctors. The countrywide organisation of Pakistani doctors, APPNA, has yet to do anything to help. Nor has any gesture of sympathy come from any of those hundreds of Pakistani millionaires, whose generosity is mostly aimed at their own person and family. A fabulously rich Pakistani in Canada who is always going on about national honour and Islam sank into silence since I asked him to make a gift of money to Shazia.
Since the publication of the two Nicholas Kristof columns in the New York Times on Shazia, there has been an outpouring of sympathy and support for her from around the world. From Pakistan there has been just one message, from India none. People have written to President Musharraf and the Canadian government has been asked by many to grant Shazia the asylum that she seeks. Two Canadian immigration lawyers have offered to take up her case free of charge. Some money has also been sent by New York Times readers and more will surely follow. One American woman writes, I am appalled at the way she was forced to leave her country and then left helpless and isolated in the United Kingdom. This crime and the cover-up have struck at the heart of humanity. I demand justice for female victims of violence in Pakistan. One message says, I am a poor man, but I will be happy to contribute a small sum. Fight the good fight Dr Shazia.
One woman writes, It must be so difficult for you right now, but try to think of how much good you are doing in the face of so much pain. You will heal, and you will fully realise that you have not lost any honour, only gained even more than you had before. Another woman writes, You are an inspiration, and a Godsend to other women who have been victims or who may become victims in the future. An American student in London says, I cant offer much, but would be happy to bring over a home-cooked meal and be a friend. A woman from Honolulu writes, Aloha, I am glad to hear that you have gone public with this humiliation. No woman should be treated the way you were. Another young London student says, Let me know what I can do! Do you or your husband need groceries, medicine or anything? Take care! A woman from St Louis writes to say that she was also a rape victim and asks Shazia to stay strong so that you can help other women who suffer. You also bring me strength. May God be with you.
Several letters have appeared in the New York Times. One rape victim tells Shazia, Rape will hurt anyone it touches and will corrupt any society that condones it, ignores it or victimises the survivor. Rape is not about sex; it is about power. One woman from New York writes, Dr Shazia was forced to quit Pakistan with dire warnings. She did not seem to get any support from the intellectuals, human rights groups and news media in Pakistan for her refusal to cower in the face of blatant injustice. A woman from California says, The world must support truth tellers. To fail to support Dr Shazia is to side with her persecutors. A woman writing from Tel Aviv tells Shazia, I had tears in my eyes when I read Kristofs column about the Pakistani rape victim. I, too, am a rape victim.
I think it is incumbent on Pakistan and its people to reclaim their daughter and bring her home from her exile with honour and love.
posted by Zulfiqar Ali Butt @ 9:41 PM
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