“If I can make our youth, especially young girls stand up for their rights, and not succumb to male brutality at any cost; my fight will be worth it.” – Khadija Siddiqi
Standing up for injustice is a battle worth fighting for at any cost.
And this is exactly what Khadija Siddiqi has been doing for the past two years. She and her family have been fighting to get justice for a diabolic enmity from a rival who stabbed her 23 times in broad daylight. Yes, 23 times.
For those, who don’t remember, Khadija Siddiqi had gone to pick up her 6-year-old sister from school on May 3rd, 2016 on Davis Road, The Mall.
As she was making her way into the car, a cruel creature clad in a helmet pushed her and started stabbing her. Not once not twice but 23 times until she was immersed in blood completely.
The attacker, Shah Husain, the son of a well-known lawyer in the city, was Siddiqi’s classmate at a private, local law school.
After committing the act the attacker fled from the scene of the crime but had been captured on a mobile phone by an eyewitness. The attack was witnessed by over 100 people.
The attacker was sentenced to a seven-year prison which was reduced to five years after appeal in the LHC. And now the court has released the final verdict- acquittal of the culprit.
Inna lilahi wa ina ilahi rajioon!
Justice butchered. Shah hussain acquitted!— khadija siddiqi (@khadeeeej751) June 4, 2018
According to the attacker’s lawyer, the arguments and facts being used were mere baseless allegations and that Shah Hussain was not even present at the time of the attack. The evidence was, apparently, insufficient. Based on these things the judge has acquitted Shah Hussain, whereas it is crystal clear that he is guilty and should be punished.
After the verdict, most Pakistanis are furious…
Will put you in jail for double sawari but stab someone 23 times and you can go home with daddy #PakistanLaw #JusticeForKhadija #WeareWithKhadija
— Ali Gul Pir (@Aligulpir) June 4, 2018
Just goes to show that you can do evrything in ur power to get justice the right way but our judicial system will always fail you esp if ur opponent has a rich powerful daddy. #KhadijaSiddiqi
— Kinza (@kinzaabdi) June 4, 2018
…as they should be.
Dear father of Husain Shah, you are kindly requested to re-name your son, Yazid ibn e Muawiyah is more suitable.#KhadijaSiddiqi pic.twitter.com/JidzhdWaoA
— Syedih (@SyedIHusain) June 4, 2018
WHAT THE HELL? I am hearing that attacker of #KhadijaSiddiqi who stabbed her 24 times has been acquitted by Lahore High Court???? If this is true, then we must all unite & be Khadija's voice & leave no stone unturned to get her justice against this barbarian! #WeAreWithKhadija pic.twitter.com/BimkvEK8Z5
— Hamza Ali Abbasi (@iamhamzaabbasi) June 4, 2018
Others are mourning this dark day for justice.
'Khadija Siddiqui ke saath jo aaj hua hai woh Pakistan ke liye sharmindagi ki baat hai. Us bachi ki himmat to qaim hai, kisi aur ki himmat na toot jaye. Khudaara, adalaton ka notice lijiye.' – Jibran Nasir.
Hon. CJP Saqib Nisar, are you listening? #JusticeForKhadija https://t.co/Z46YyAq6hO— Osman Khalid Butt (@aClockworkObi) June 4, 2018
I've lost hope in this country. Where are all these men who used to ask for proves when women came out with their harassment stories. Imagine getting stabbed 23 times, i can't. Women can never get justice in this country. #JusticeForKhadija
— minahil? ?️? (@surkhminahil) June 4, 2018
There is CCTV footage of the assailant. There are eyewitnesses, medical reports, and scars. Moreover, Khadija’s lawyer shared DNA reports as proof as well. All to no avail.
I decided to give one of the many reasons why this acquittal is a SHOCK. Ive attached PUNJAB FORENSIC REPORT of HELMET recovered where khadija was stabbed. It says 1)the blood on helmet is of khadija 2)the DNA from swab inside the SAME HELMET is of SHAH HUSSAIN #WeAreWithKhadija pic.twitter.com/o78d0lHGvy
— Hassaan Niazi (@HniaziISF) June 4, 2018
He has even revealed that Khadija was being threatened to back off the case.
More revelations: Khadija was told by governor Punjab Raffique Rijwana to back off. The criminal’s father is lawyer from multan. Governor Punjab is also from multan.Standing for their community member even if they commit butcher? #23timesStabs #JusticeForKhadija #WeAreWithKhadija
— Hassaan Niazi (@HniaziISF) June 4, 2018
Now that the criminal is out of the cage. It’s high time whole world should know what khadija faced
1) before trial started a CD was sent to khadija’s father blackmailing him. It had some really personal pictures of khadija.
Khadija didn’t bow down #WeareWithKhadija
— Hassaan Niazi (@HniaziISF) June 4, 2018
We spoke to Khadija about the case as well. Here’s what she said:
“I didn’t expect the High Court to give this verdict after all I had been through for the past two years and the amount of effort I had put in to get justice, irrespective of the immense pressure from the opposite side. The same High Court that previously ordered a 30 day trial period has now acquitted my culprit as completely innocent and has regraded all evidence as baseless. This was something unimaginable for me.”
“I was standing against a system where it is always said that a lawyer’s son cannot and will not be punished and in court, they tried their best to prove this and have somewhat succeeded. Waqai, wakeel kay betay ko saza nahi ho sakti.”
Regarding the problems she had to face, here’s what she shared:
I had to face a very harsh treatment in the Session courts initially. I was asked to show all my wounds and scars and even then I obliged, hopeful that this would make them realize that I am not lying. Even then the sentence was reduced from seven years to five years whereas this crime deserves at least a ten-year imprisonment.
She even shared why she thought she may have lost:
“In a criminal case like mine, the prosecution does not require to provide evidence. On the other hand, the defense needs to give proof to prove their case if they plead not guilty. The DNA reports, the footage, the eyewitnesses – they were quite enough to prove my case but the defense bombarded us with fifteen lawyers and I think it is because of the pressure they built on us that we lost our plea.”
Despite this, Khadija remains hopeful:
“Even though it was a shock and I am quite upset about the acquittal, I am not losing hope at all. In fact, all this has given me a new light of hope where I am stronger than ever. I have said it before and will say it again, that I am not amongst those who lose hope and don’t fight back. I raised a voice against this injustice and the voice prevails now more than ever.”
Talking about her and her team’s future efforts, she stated:
“This event took place three days before my exam and in 2017 I sat for my examination again. That was when a lot of hype was created on social media. Nevertheless, the accused are always given leverage and even now have been acquitted on basis of benefit of the doubt. We, on the other hand, go unheard and are served with injustice.”
“We plan to appeal to the Supreme Court and the Chief Justice of Pakistan. I hope that the CJP will now handle my case and the justice system of my country will not let me down again.”
Much like the rest of the country, we applaud Khadija Siddiqi for her unwavering valor and determination. Moreover, we hope that she gets the justice she deserves. Because if we lose this – if this case doesn’t end with Khadija triumphant – it will be a humongous blow to Pakistan – one that may be hard to recover from.
The Man Who Stabbed Khadija Siddiqi 23 Times Was Just Acquitted In Lahore High Court And Pakistanis Are Outraged
Cover image via dunyanews.tv