KARACHI, Mar 06 (IPS) – For the reason that begin of the 12 months, there was little or no to rejoice for Pakistanis. Disrupted social media, escalating electrical energy, gasoline, and meals costs, and newly-held elections mired in controversy. However then, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Syeda Shehrbano Naqvi, did one thing that brightened the times of despair.
The 31-year-old’s brave overture and foresight within the face of a probably explosive scenario have given Pakistan a cause to face among the many international locations on this 12 months’s Ladies’s Day with pleasure.
Naqvi rescued a lady, carrying a gown with Arabic calligraphy, from a frenzied mob from Lahore’s Ichhra Bazaar late final month (Sunday, February 25), who mistook it for verses from the Holy Quran and accused her of getting dedicated blasphemy.
“There have to be roughly 150–200 folks by the point I reached the spot the place this incident came about, round 1.45 pm,” stated the police officer, speaking to IPS over the cellphone from Lahore. She spoke to the mob with authority: “It’s best to belief us ,” she was heard shouting to the group on a video clip gone viral. Previous to her arrival, police from close by police stations had additionally arrived to handle the scenario.
“We needed to act swiftly and get her out, as an indignant mob in a detailed house can imply the scenario getting uncontrolled rapidly,” she informed IPS.
A black abayaa (a loose-fitted, long-sleeved gown worn by Muslim ladies) was organized for the lady to cowl her gown, which had ignited the emotions within the first place, and her face fully coated to guard her identification when she was led out and whisked away within the police car.
Naqvi knew precisely tips on how to deal with the scenario, having handled comparable conditions up to now. However she admitted that the “five-minute stroll to the police van was not with out hazard, regardless of the police forming a circle round us.”
Earlier than the police arrived, movies posted on social media present a visibly terrified girl standing within the far nook of a restaurant along with her fingers masking half of her face.
The restaurant proprietor put his shutter down and locked it from inside to guard the lady, whereas others tried to calm the indignant mob, who threatened to set the place on hearth if the lady was not handed to them.
“Pakistanis spend a lot of their time studying the Quran and reciting from it; then how can the only Arabic writing be mistaken for a holy verse?” requested Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy, an Islamabad-based physicist and writer, referring to rote studying of the holy e-book by majority Pakistanis. “This episode reveals that the flexibility to learn a overseas language with out understanding it achieves nothing.”
“Preventing stress, numbers, and conditions, you upheld each humanity and regulation; I thanks, and we’re very pleased with you,” stated a press assertion issued from the newly-elected chief minister of Punjab province, Maryam Nawaz’s workplace, commending officer Naqvi.
“Shehrbano Naqvi has set a brand new customary for the police power,” stated younger Pakistani activist Ammar Ali Jan, secretary basic of the left-wing socialist celebration, Haqooq-e-Khalq Social gathering.
“That is the way in which to face as much as a mob; it’s by no means occurred earlier than and it’ll set an instance for others to take comparable motion,” he stated, particularly if she’s rewarded.
The Punjab police chief has really helpful Naqvi for the Quaid-i-Azam Police Medal for her gallantry.
Jan stated the incident ought to be checked out by a gender lens. “It has highlighted the necessity for extra educated and certified ladies to be inducted into the state equipment.”
Nevertheless, for a lot of, what occurred after the rescue has left a nasty aftertaste.
Conceding the policewoman put up a courageous act and prevented it from getting ugly, Farah Zia, director of the unbiased Human Rights Fee of Pakistan requested: “Why was the rescued girl, underneath the identical police watch, pressured to hunt forgiveness and declare herself to belong to the bulk Sunni Muslim sect and thus can by no means consider doing something to hurt the emotions of her fellow Muslims? Does it imply these belonging to minority faiths or sects may be anticipated to?”
Zia stated it despatched a sign that the federal government and the state are helpless and weak within the face of violent mobs.
The apology video, exhibiting the lady sitting in between two bearded males who additionally put phrases in her mouth in the course of the recording, was shot on the police station, however Naqvi insisted it had nothing to do with the police.
“It was determined between these nominated by the mob and the lady’s household that she would apologize,” clarified Naqvi and that the job of the police was simply to “guarantee regulation and order is maintained; there isn’t any lack of life and no materials injury.”
Nevertheless, she added: “It’s pertinent to do not forget that this incident both may have change into a trauma within the lifetime of the lady or we may have helped by placating the problem in a fashion that places an finish to any additional dialog that may ensue sooner or later. We determined to do the latter, regardless of criticism from numerous quarters. Given sure realities of our society, she now has a greater likelihood of residing a traditional, wholesome, and completely satisfied life,” identified Naqvi.
“The progressives amongst us could not just like the tactical strategy employed,” stated Jan, referring to the apology coerced from the accused girl, however he defined: “The risk is actual and potent, particularly for somebody who’s marked.” He additional added that the steadiness of forces in society is tipped in favour of extremists.
Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy stated the incident was reflective of an training system that “feeds non secular fanaticism,” due to which Pakistani society and even its educated class have turned extremist.
“Now not can illiteracy alone be held accountable. The hyper-religiosity promoted by state establishments and the poisonous training in our faculties are usually not getting us admiration wherever. As a substitute, it’s producing a wild, uncontrollable inhabitants. Even our buddies now worry us,” he lamented.
“Who in his proper thoughts—aside from devoted mountaineers—would need to trip in a rustic the place the inhabitants is able to burst into flames on the slightest provocation?” he warned.
Blasphemy is punishable by loss of life in Pakistan however as has usually occurred up to now, even earlier than the case goes to trial, the accused is lynched.
In accordance with the information collected by the Centre of Social Justice Pakistan, not less than 329 folks had been allegedly accused of blasphemy within the 12 months 2023.
“That is merely a listing of circumstances reported within the press; the quantity may be increased than that,” Peter Jacob, govt director of CSJP, informed IPS. Seven folks had been killed extrajudicially in 2023, he stated.
No less than 2,449 folks have been accused of committing blasphemy between 1987 and 2023 and 95 folks had been killed extrajudicially between 1994 and 2023. Nobody has ever been punished besides Mumtaz Qadri, who assassinated Punjab governor Salman Taseer in 2011.
Islamabad-based physicist and writer Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy requested, “Who, in his proper thoughts, aside from devoted mountaineers, would need to trip in a rustic the place the inhabitants is able to burst into flames on the slightest provocation?”
Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi, chairman of the Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC), applauded the policewoman for exhibiting immense braveness within the face of such incidents; he stated many others had buckled underneath comparable circumstances up to now.
“She put her life in peril to avoid wasting this girl and she or he ought to be counseled for that,” he informed IPS.
With “each political celebration and each political chief agreeing the regulation is misused and the accusations are false and have led to lethal penalties,” Jan stated they should provide you with a grand nationwide technique.
“Start by punishing those that falsely accuse others of blasphemy.”
Ashrafi wholeheartedly endorsed this. “Make it the take a look at case,” demanded the PUC head, in order that such incidents don’t occur once more.” He stated all those that instigated this incident ought to be tried underneath the state’s anti-terrorist regulation.
For the reason that submitting of this story, the Lahore police have lodged a First Data Report (FIR) in opposition to dozens of alleged miscreants in order that the method of investigation can start.
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