Recently our televisions flashed images of a 28-year-old woman being publicly abused in Larkana by her own brother and husband only to be witnessed by a mute crowd.

We claim to live in an Islamic country whereby rights of everyone, including women, are protected. The state we live in today is no different from the pre-Islamic era when daughters were buried alive.

The advent of Islam was a respite for women who were previously given the lowest status in society. Islam, which is conveniently used by these upholders of a false and primitive concept of honour, was the first religion to raise the status of women.

It is sad that a country which has its very roots and foundation in Islam bears witness to such heinous crimes against helpless women.

We as a community need to raise voice against these detestable acts on all possible forums.

It is the responsibility of the privileged class to come forward and protest against such antiquated traditions and norms of society.

If we do not speak out today, the time is not far off when no woman in this country will feel safe.

SAADIA QAYYUM
Lahore

(II)

Images in the media of a helpless 28-year-old woman being beaten and pulled by the hair in Larkana by her husband and brother, or the news of physical abuse of a Sessions Judge in Lahore by rogue lawyers, all portend that social anarchy has set in.

Intolerance for dissent was exposed when the Punjab Assembly passed a resolution against the media on the issue of fake degrees. This came at the very time when over 100 innocent Pakistanis were killed in a bomb attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Whether it is a democratically elected government, the parliament, free media, or an independent judiciary, it is the issue of abuse of power that has affected governance and the people in general. Time has come for ruthless accountability across the board or else the situation will lead to a bloody revolution.

NABEELA HAYAT
Lahore