The Power Play

chambers of justice

Cricket scores, the rising cost of petrol, a new restaurant - these are the comfortable conversations that fill our days in Pakistan. There is a truth that we hold back, though, like a bitter pill lodged in our throats: the shadow of sexual violence looming over the country, shrouding the sanctity of our most familiar spaces - your bedroom, a classroom, the office, a crowded bus, a playground, the arms of a close relative and even your marital bed. The only way to obliterate the darkness of this shadow is to drag it screaming into the light. So, let’s talk about sexual violence in Pakistan.

Not to sensationalise, but to understand, to heal, and to fight for a future where fear of violation does not seep into every corner of a safe space. On July 9, 2024, 20-year-old Sania Zehra, who was pregnant, was brutally raped, tortured, and murdered by her husband in Multan. Similarly, on September 9, 2020, a woman was raped on a highway in Lahore, with her two traumatised children as witnesses. In Pakistan, only 10 per cent of rape cases are reported, yet even these figures reveal a woman is raped every two hours - a statistic that barely scratches the surface of the harsh reality. This violence extends adult women; an average of 12 children per day - or one every two hours - were subjected to sexual abuse in Pakistan in 2023. The rape and murder of 6-year-old Zainab Ansari in January 2018 shook the country, but lessons remained unlearned. Moreover, according to the Anti Rape Crisis Cell Karachi, underage boys have recently been more at risk than underage girls.

The reason rape cases and sexual assault cases in general in Pakistan are unrevealed is because society assigns the responsibility of maintaining ‘honour’ to the victim- usually women. According to the data provided by some non-governmental organisations, nearly 1,000 women are killed in the name of honour in Pakistan every year. However, this societal pressure also affects males, particularly underage boys, who fear being perceived as less ‘masculine’ if they disclose their victimisation by other men.

Additionally, sexual violence, particularly against children and women, is exploited as a profitable business through trafficking. This highlights that sexual violence is about domination and control over another person’s bodily autonomy. Traffickers force children and women into various forms of exploitation, including begging, forced domestic labour, prostitution, and bonded labour, creating a demand-and-supply chain that generates substantial profits for those involved, hence compelling more to join into this abhorrent money-making scheme. This drive to control other human beings also manifests in the form of female genital mutilation (FGM), a practice seldom discussed in Pakistan or globally, so much so that there are not many statistics available about it.

This is done to control the female sexuality, and ensure her chastity, subsequently ensuring her fidelity once she marries. The physical marks left on the body are not prominent, but the psychological trauma is profound, affecting women during menstruation and sexual intercourse. This abominable act stands in stark irony next to the acts of sexual harassment so frequently carried out by men in Pakistan through the form of indecent exposure and ‘flashing’ of their genitals in public, and, with technology now, through unsolicited pictures online. Wielding their sexuality as a weapon to scare and threaten, men exercise their entitlement over other’s bodies and anxieties by freely exposing theirs, without fear of any consequences. Using sex and sexuality as a tool to harm is a common practice in Pakistan, corroborating the fact that sexual violence is not about lust or desire, but more so about power and entitlement.

This is evident in various forms, including politically motivated sexual violence supported by governing bodies and the police. Adding onto this, marital rape is another method through which men exert control and ownership over their wives. This crime is rarely reported, and convictions are even more uncommon. Ultimately, the root causes of these atrocities are clear: the perpetrators, predominantly men, derive their audacity from a sense of entitlement. These acts aren’t driven by desire; they are about power and control. Laws alone are insufficient; casual sexism, degrading jokes, and victim-blaming create a breeding ground for such violence. Open conversations are crucial, as well as challenging the very notion of ‘izzat’ being tied to female sexuality. Pakistan can forge a brighter future, one where individuals walk freely, unafraid.