WHILE men enjoy privileges in our society, life is difficult for girls. Parents spend their whole life raising their daughters, educating them and making them in-dependent. What they have to live with is the reality that their daughters are not always safe in society. This is the stark reality of life in Pakistan.

Our society loves women who suffer. Society considers women respectful if they choose to bear nonsense. They are acceptable until they remain deaf and dumb. The minute women choose to speak for themselves and their rights, society starts character assassination and tortures them physically, emotionally and mentally so much so that they recede into silence once again. On the contrary, men are allowed to do whatever they want.

A major reason behind the rising incidents of violence against women is that men are not held accountable for anything. Society loves to give the co-called benefit of doubt to every harasser, murderer, rapist and misogynist.

Criminals should be dealt with strictly. Anyone contemplating a crime is deterred by the fear of facing tough consequences. Pakistan’s justice system takes unnece- ssarily long to deliver justice, if at all.

Mahnoor Khalid
Khanewal

Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2026