The human race has pushed its boundaries over the course of history. We have flirted with different ideologies; by adopting some and discarding others. Along with taming the natural environment, we have also travelled to the space; with the idea of conquering it.
Pakistan seems to be going in a different trajectory altogether. Senator Sherry Rehman pointed out how policemen in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were blackening a woman’s image on public display
What’s happening in this photo?
This is a truck featuring an advert somewhere in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It has a woman on the advert too. The police officer in the picture is covering up the woman.
The officer believes, or is ordered by his superiors to do so because the general assumption of a conservative mind is that women in adverts give rise to vulgarity and must be snubbed.
This is what Sherry tweeted:
Imran Khan, pl take notice of KP police blacking out the image of a woman on a billboard. Are women’s faces to be defaced in naya Pakistan ? pic.twitter.com/SByGE7HnAF
— SenatorSherryRehman (@sherryrehman) November 17, 2017
Sherry Rehman was extremely furious because of this act and thought that it was necessary to bring this up. She also called out Imran Khan and questioned his vision for the Naya Pakistan.
According to her, a Naya Pakistan – where orthodoxy is present – is not acceptable.
Men on Twitter started trolling the Senator for pointing a wrong behavior
Well done KPK Police ?♀️ proud of you guys, setting example for the rest.
— M. A. C. (@golf786) November 18, 2017
bibi sherry, we will request kp govt to display ur photo behind that ‘ truck ki batti ‘ please DM me your khuli duli photos ?
— ShazyHaq (@shazyhaq) November 18, 2017
Y don't u put ur half naked pictures on billboard magazine and on transports u shameless women
This move by Kp police is good.— Abilal (@abilal786ab) November 18, 2017
Would you like one of your picture at the back of a lorry, showing cleavage? Would that be democratic enough for you?
— Ahsan Malik (@sunnymalik58) November 18, 2017
People are clearly not happy with what Sherry Rehman pointed out and thought it was necessary to cover up the woman. Although such imagery is quite prevalent in the Pakistani art scene.
Before n after vulgarity was being blackened this lady farzana on Aaj News also reported NA4 by-election and quoted a lot of discrepancies #Bughz-e-PTI pic.twitter.com/ozWQdwB7uY
— Salman Kayani (@salkay511) November 18, 2017
There were some sane minds who were in agreement with Ms. Rehman, too
Haan, so stuff like that is often painted, here, there and everywhere. It hangs in homes too.
— Muniba Kamal (@MunibaKamal) November 17, 2017
So narrow minded approach
— umair (@umair31572622) November 18, 2017
coming events cast their shadows. In times to come you will see fanaticism will increase beyond imagination. Quite possible women may not be allowed to work outside homes. And their voting rights are forfeited so on.
— mufaruk (@mufaruk) November 18, 2017
Important Reminder
The idea that to curtail “vulgarity” or crime against women the society should hide them from public spaces is flawed on so many levels, as can be seen from thousands of years of history of excluding women from public discourse and its consequences.
It is 2017! Pakistan has moved way beyond such petty issues. The image of a woman should not bother anyone nor should it be the cause of distraction. We have had women leaders in this country, and women have taken up different roles. Let us not give space for a reversal of this process. Art, in all its forms, is a very important part of our culture. Such images have been around for so long, and it is not the job of a police officer to cover them up.