KARACHI: Uks Research Centre and Pakistani Women’s Media Network (PWMN) have strongly condemned the August 14, 2021 incident when a woman was assaulted by 400 men near Lahore's Minar-i-Pakistan while the nation was celebrating Pakistan’s 74th Independence Day.

The woman was harassed, attacked, and physically assaulted for a considerable period of time and no one came to her help for several hours.

"We demand immediate action against the culprits. They should be arrested and brought to justice," the statement from Uks and PWMN said.

We are also very perturbed at the actions of some media anchors who once again acted irresponsibly while trying to play the savoiur and visited the woman’s house and got themselves photographed with her while placing their hands on her head, the statement said, adding that "we appeal to all media interests to kindly respect the privacy of the suffering woman".

"We also appeal to all government officials, politicians and others who’d love to get a photo-shoot done by placing their hands at the traumatised woman’s head. Such gestures don’t mean anything. Not anymore. If you believe women are equal citizens of this country, then prove it with strong legislations and safety mechanisms that would make women feel safe anywhere at any time of the day and wearing whatever they choose to."

"Pakistani women don’t go around in public places scantily clad or half naked. They know the society and dress accordingly. But it should be their choice. The woman at Minar-i-Pakistan wasn’t dressed ‘inappropriately’ as some would have loved to argue, and yet she fell victim to a mob of maniacs. With this incident, the claims that ‘Pakistan is the safest place for women’, and that ‘we know how to respect women’ don’t hold true. Time to act and prove your claims is now," said the statement.