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Ayesha Omar says she doesn't feel safe in her own country

Ayesha Omar says she doesn't feel safe in her own country

The motorway rape incident has sparked a conversation on women's safety and celebrities are also asking some important questions.
Updated 11 Sep, 2020

The motorway rape incident has sparked a conversation on women's safety and celebrities are also asking some important questions.

In a post on the micro-blogging platform Twitter, Bulbulay star Ayesha Omar posed the question as to what a woman was to do in case she didn't have a choice but to step out of her house when it was late?

"What if she or someone in her family needed medical help?" Omar asks.

And goes on to add: "I can walk on the streets at 1 am in other parts of the world and feel completely safe but just not in my own country, even inside a car."

The tweet was in reference to the motorway rape case and came hours after CCPO Lahore Umer Shaikh came under fire for his comments, where the latter said that the woman should not have been travelling on her own late at night. The officer had also made assertions that our societies did not allow women to travel alone at night and that this was to ensure women's own safety.

The officer, who is leading the investigation of the case, is being criticised for using language that tantamounts to victim-blaming.

Comments

Brownflower Sep 11, 2020 01:33am
Pakistan is not safe for women and children.
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Ameen Sep 11, 2020 01:36am
She is absolutely right. My daughters travel outside Pakistan because they feel safer there. They are terrified of travelling by themselves in Pakistan because the men are horrible here and there is no law and order.
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Basit Sep 11, 2020 01:40am
This is absolutely true. We migrated to Australia after we had our daughter. There was no way she was going to live a caged life.
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FAZ Sep 11, 2020 01:50am
Walk in Brooklyn at 1am? New Delhi?
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Atta Sep 11, 2020 02:14am
@Basit so did we with our three daughters and a son. We moved to the UK.
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Mujtaba Sep 11, 2020 03:01am
Really! These days no one should take safety for granted anywhere..
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SAk Sep 11, 2020 03:52am
On one hand an individual must ensure his/her own safety and on other hand law can’t wash his hands from his duty. However I choose to criticize the CCPO for his careless comments. As his comments are not reassuring.
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Secular Sep 11, 2020 03:54am
@FAZ Here people are discussing about Pakistan.
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SAk Sep 11, 2020 03:56am
@Basit I respect your decision but sorry don’t agree with your comment. We 220 million strong still live here and for large majority of our daughters, it’s not a caged life.
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Al Marzook Sep 11, 2020 03:56am
I don't blame you Ayesha, living in a country that has the most Corrupt Police and bribery in every step of life what else to expect...
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Indie Guy Sep 11, 2020 03:56am
There are reasons why women from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh like living in western countries and don’t want to return. They feel safe and free to pursue their dreams and life.
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Gurpreet Singh Sep 11, 2020 03:57am
Yes because in villages there is no law, few Gunda mafia waiting at roads to crime such acts, they are job less, uneducated roaming free even they cross the age that parents can hold them at home.
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Ramana Sep 11, 2020 04:30am
Ayesha Omar in the world who thinks Pakistan safe for women?
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M. Emad Sep 11, 2020 04:54am
Pakistani women don't feel safe in their own country at night.
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El Cid Sep 11, 2020 05:19am
@FAZ True! Delhi, Mumbai, New York, London ... the list is long!
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Zak Sep 11, 2020 05:42am
Revamp the police with their antiquated mindsets, not fit for modern day policing and recruit middle class educated graduates. Everything will change for the better in society.
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Critic Sep 11, 2020 05:55am
How can one feel safe in this country when leaders like to bestow horrors on its people?
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Ibrahim S Sep 11, 2020 06:04am
@Brownflower , when you destroy the educational system then be prepared to face such lawlessness and injustice in every corner of this country . Our fathers must be turning in their graves. We have become a shameless nation.
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Markhor Sep 11, 2020 06:23am
@FAZ probably the distinction to make is women alone are more at risk of harm travelling/being alone in Pakistan - when you bring in New York as an example you are trying to tie in the high crime rate in suburbs in there - crime which can cause harm to any gender not just women. Clearly you are trying to provide external validation of this heinous act to downplay the very real and very crush misogynistic and frankly oppressive culture by men of our society against men. Facts like the its not safe for women to travel at night like from you or the CCPO indicate lack of responsibility and genuine introspection - it is worst for a police officer to make such callous remarks. Clearly an attempt to underplay the extent of devastation of this crime. He does not understand that lack of any solid security for the citizen of this country is to blame for the prevalence of these acts. He should resign for creating shameful distractions and on how can no one has been arrested within 24 hours.
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a.ali Sep 11, 2020 06:25am
@Basit we know how much safe you in Australia and other western countries. We as pakistani require some thing to criticize Pakistan. Do you know how many rapes happen in USA per day. Pls read the fact. Yes wrong has happened and we require correction but not blaming Pakistan. All those who migrated to other countries are cowards, should have remain in the country and correct the things.
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Faraz Sep 11, 2020 06:25am
@Brownflower USA has more such crimes
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Fast comment Sep 11, 2020 06:25am
@FAZ . Plz don’t taunt. Brooklyn NY is risky for walk at 1am, all New Yorkers know that well. And Delhi is same as Karachi or Lahore. The street crimes are rampant in big cities of US hope you are aware.
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Faraz Sep 11, 2020 06:26am
Ayesha ..... one incident doesn’t make unsafe but in Europe and USA there are more such crimes
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Ankush Sep 11, 2020 06:35am
@FAZ Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata Yes!
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Nimra Sep 11, 2020 07:00am
I have been harassed numerous times and once barely escaped getting sexually assaulted. All that in London.
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Steel Sep 11, 2020 07:01am
@Brownflower No. Everyone knows that would be India, rape capital of the world.
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ali Sep 11, 2020 07:04am
@Brownflower please ... better move to mars or venus.
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ali Sep 11, 2020 07:08am
@Ameen there almost 130 Million Men in Pakistan and may few men committed a hideous crime and its not fair calling the res of 129,999,995 men horrible. what happened was horrible, the men committed that crime is horrible and must be caught and punished.
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Kiran Sep 11, 2020 07:09am
I am an Indian and I say the worst country in the world for women by a big margin is India. No other country comes close. It is terrible being a woman here. We are objectivized, selectively aborted, raped and treated as lower grade humans than menfolk.
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Humane Sep 11, 2020 07:12am
"I can walk on the streets at 1 am in other parts of the world and feel completely safe". That is a big lie and you know it.
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Blunt Sep 11, 2020 07:19am
We don't recall stopping you from travelling to the 'safe' countries.
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Changez Khan Sep 11, 2020 07:27am
@Ameen I live in the west, you obviously have not read rape statistics in the western world. Besides, by telling us that unlike most Pakistanis you can afford to send your daughters aborad for a "safe" vacation, what problem are you solving?
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Changez Khan Sep 11, 2020 07:29am
@Basit Isn't that painting it with super broad brush? Unfortunate yet isolated cases of rape in Pakistan, really doesn't mean the rest of the population lives a caged life.
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Changez Khan Sep 11, 2020 07:30am
@Brownflower many would disagree with that statement, especially in the absence of facts and context.
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Khaled Sep 11, 2020 07:35am
Fully agree
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Fazal Sep 11, 2020 07:42am
@Ameen you are Pakistani so b Pakistani otherwise if u hv choice to go from here u hv to go.
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Rana Nasir Sep 11, 2020 07:50am
@Basit seriously
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Khurram Sep 11, 2020 07:57am
Victim blaming is old tradition in Pakistan.
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Raju Charles Sep 11, 2020 08:23am
Rape will go on in South Asia Safe Heaven for the Rapist
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Anas Iqbal Sep 11, 2020 08:26am
I am not sure what new information she is sharing here. We all know it.
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Changez Khan Sep 11, 2020 08:48am
Celebs and their opinions on social issues, landing on the the front page is half of everything that's wrong with Pakistan. Rape is a heinous crime, but I'm not sure I want to be schooled by someone with zero domain expertise in crimes against women.
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Dave Sep 11, 2020 08:49am
@Steel I think you are posting in an incorrect place, his news is about a lady who feels unsafe..
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Angel Sep 11, 2020 09:35am
@Basit Good for you, we are also trying to immigrate from the Jungle Land. Politicians with degrees from Oxford come back here because they have greater earning capabilities through politics as compared to competing with the foreign world.
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NK Sep 11, 2020 09:38am
@Basit A caged life really? In Pakistan every woman has a caged life? Are you serious about your comment?
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Chrís Dăn Sep 11, 2020 09:38am
Ayesha Umar is totally correct here. Our men do not offer a smooth and calm life for women either in streets,in shopping places, in tourism resorts or in personal life of any woman /women with her own personal views. A woman in Pakistan defininitely feels mentally and emotionally threatened if leading a single or an independent life of her own.
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Chrís Dăn Sep 11, 2020 09:38am
@Brownflower true.
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Chrís Dăn Sep 11, 2020 09:39am
@Mujtaba Pakistan men are a threat to women here. Abroad men are normal.
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Chrís Dăn Sep 11, 2020 09:41am
@SAk ask from hearts of these caged women whom men have silenced through emotional and mental bullies. You can not argue on behalf of your women please. Ask them.
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Chrís Dăn Sep 11, 2020 09:42am
@Gurpreet Singh cities are worse.
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Chrís Dăn Sep 11, 2020 09:44am
@Faraz no. It is exactly still 500% mire protected for women to live in West.
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Chrís Dăn Sep 11, 2020 09:45am
@Raju Charles it is!!!
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Indian Sep 11, 2020 09:52am
Shame and sad!!
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Rahim Sep 11, 2020 09:56am
We are with you. 12 people teaming up to destroy a woman on a motorway. How can the rulers allow it? Total intelligence failure.
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sami Sep 11, 2020 10:00am
@Brownflower yes, india also is not safe for women and children.
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Chris Roberts Sep 11, 2020 10:05am
Umer Shaikh seems to be living in the dark ages. Anyone - man or woman -should be free to go about their business in their own country. One may be invited out for an evening, might like to go to a late show or be invited to a celebration or special event, or maybe feeling like grabbing a late snack somewhere... nothing unusual about any of this in most parts of the world. Ayesha Omar is quite right.
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Haider Khan Sep 11, 2020 10:36am
I have daughters... I moved back from UK to Pakistan. Our country is much better than the west. There is no comparison if you look at the statistics. False sense of security in the west is more dangerous than being vigilant in Pakistan.
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Asad Sep 11, 2020 10:39am
Well then leave the country. Is this really news?
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Ali da Malanga Sep 11, 2020 10:43am
@SAk - Agree with you!
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syed akif Sep 11, 2020 10:45am
I fully support this statement. Our women are not safe on the streets at any time, let alone at night. Our police officers are corrupt to the core. The report of the CCPO's supercession has already been published in the media and yet he remains in place in spite of the easing out of the IG.
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Zulfiqar Sep 11, 2020 10:49am
Pakistan, India, Bangladesh same mysoginistic mentality of men. It’s not just lack of education, it’s lack of humanity. Comes from the mental health epidemic that exists but no one want to talk about.
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Saif Zulfiqar Sep 11, 2020 10:52am
Until and unless the rapists and murderers are not hanged in public, these crimes will keep on increasing.
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Abu Shady Sep 11, 2020 11:06am
Leave Pakistan and Come to Dubai....safest place on earth....
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KSYED Sep 11, 2020 11:08am
So what are you going to do madam???
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Chrís Dăn Sep 11, 2020 11:18am
@Atta you did best. Your children will be raised as better human beungs with morality and character. And hard working too because of merit based system. Bliss.
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Chrís Dăn Sep 11, 2020 11:24am
@Atta you did good. Though UK is now a hub of money laundrers since it is out of EU. Still schools are good.
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Citizen Sep 11, 2020 11:25am
Dear Madam Act of individuals may not taken as overall society act. Overall Pakistan society is tolerant and patient. There are so may good individuals who do charity & good deeds but this does not reflect on society
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Raja Farhat Abbas Sep 11, 2020 11:57am
@FAZ ..She can walk or drive in some parts of any big city in the UK and see how safe/unsafe it can be !
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Zainab Sep 11, 2020 01:26pm
@FAZ You are right women should be careful when venturing out at night.No country or city is safe as rapist are everywhere.
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Kash Sep 11, 2020 01:29pm
@Atta UK is worse now.
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Zainab Sep 11, 2020 01:29pm
@Atta Don’t let them stay out till 1am or 2 am at night even in London.Night time no city is safe
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Sep 11, 2020 01:35pm
She is 100 percent right.
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Zainab Sep 11, 2020 01:38pm
Late nights travelling is never safe unless you are with armed men escorting you.
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Jehengir khan Sep 11, 2020 01:58pm
Ayesha: you are a woman....this society doesn't give equal rights to all....
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TZaman Sep 11, 2020 02:52pm
Your are free to move out. But do not represent Pakistan then.
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Bupi Sep 11, 2020 03:15pm
To whom to blame for all this?
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well wisher Sep 11, 2020 05:17pm
@a.ali I agree with most of your comment except for the last sentence, immigrants are not cowards!
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Anonymouseee Sep 11, 2020 06:38pm
The same is true in India as well. Then again, it’s not safe for men to travel by themselves at night in deserted roads either.
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Elegant Liberal Sep 11, 2020 08:03pm
How many rape cases in Europe or USA or in Latin America? Why people feel safe there. Why ladies feel safe in India where women in 80s are even raped.
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NK Sep 11, 2020 08:14pm
@Brownflower So which country is safe. any guess?
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NK Sep 11, 2020 08:22pm
Rape has been one of the oldest crime in the world and probably will remain the same. Only swift capital punishment can save every woman.
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Agha Hamid Jan Sep 11, 2020 08:34pm
Of course, no one is safe if he or she is traveling in Rs.4 Million car parked on an empty road with no fuel and surrounded by illiterate HIGH beasts... situation could be the same if she was traveling in any European country.
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Zeenat Sep 11, 2020 11:16pm
@Basit There are more kidnapping and murder cases of young girls in Australia than Pakistan. You migrated to a wrong country. Stay safe!
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Ahsan Sep 12, 2020 08:29am
CCPO should apologise for his ignorant comments
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Cye Sep 12, 2020 09:13am
It’s nowhere safe anymore In the world, somewhere less and somewhere more. You have to use your judgement and common sense.
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Jill Sep 12, 2020 09:41am
Even Aamirs Khan's wife made the same statement about india..but she is still around..
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Sep 13, 2020 05:14pm
Is there any place on earth where you could really feel safe?
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AJ Sep 14, 2020 09:52am
No disagreements here. The sub-continent region is unsafe for women without a doubt. Very alarming situation, but the issues don't get addressed.
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Hasan Sep 16, 2020 08:00pm
Not going far but does she think our neighbouring country on either side is safer than Pakistan? These celebs jst come uo with anything!
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