FREEDOM OF SPEECH; A DREAM OR REALITY ?

“If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.”

Over the years as Pakistan has grown from a totally Islamic state to a modern and democratic state with a major decrease in the implementation of shariah laws. Calling ourselves a totally Muslim state that follows all the rules of Islam yet we fail to recognize the sole truth that we lack in modesty, humanity, in faith and unity.

Living in a world where we are taught that each and every human being is entitled to their own opinion and they can express their opinions in any way they desire as the expression of thought/opinions is a fundamental part of the basic human rights each individual holds. But everything is certainly not what it seems.

Having a major population in our country that isn’t well educated, Doesn’t have access to basic educational facilities. we as a nation do not realize how our rights are suppressed and controlled by the government to the extent that we have no control over what we can express or feel.

The government of Pakistan placed an advertisement in the national dailies inviting the attention of the general public, Media Houses and Social Media users to the freedom of expression allowed under article 19 of the constitution and the areas where utmost discretion is required to be exercised. The advertisement also mentioned the punishments that can be awarded to the violators of the constitution under the Pakistan Penal Code. The article 19 of the constitution reads “Every citizen shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression and there shall be freedom of the press, subject to any reasonable restriction imposed by law in the interest of the glory of Islam or the integrity, security or defense of Pakistan.

Mashal Khan, a young boy who studied in Abdul Wali Khan University was murdered brutally on the 13th of April 2017. Mashal Khan was dragged out of his university by a crowd of hundreds of his fellow students all because the public present in his university considered his opinions to be a part of treason and eventually leading it to be considered as a Blasphemous attempt.  Mashal Khan had expressed his opinions about his university that were highly criticizing in nature because in his opinion the students of Abdul Wali Khan University were being forced by the higher authorities to study in uncertain conditions and the teachers would not cooperate at all. He stated “everyone in the authority is a thief here” but none of his comments mentioned religious content or blasphemy. This belief was furthermore shared by Mashal Khan’s mother as well as she had stated this when she found about her son’s brutal murder as his body was lying down in front of her covered by a white cloth as the entire room filled with beloved relatives and loved ones grieved. Mashal Khan’s mother; Syeda Bibi said that she had raised her beloved son like others raise their daughters — protecting him from the outside world.

“I worried about the radicalising influence of mullahs and terrorists. I taught my children religion at home because I felt I knew it better than what they teach.”

After being tortured for hours, Mashal was shot from a close range and again his dead body was tortured. Who knew that one of the basic human rights being freedom of speech and expression would have such drastic consequences!

On 14th April, the body of a young teenager who was brutally murdered by the public that used to surround him at his own university was buried. Sitting in Mashal’s whitewashed room with his pictures lined on the wall as his beloved loved ones gave their condolences and grievances. No matter what happened, what such an event speaks out about the general public of Pakistan only adds up to the negative image that is faced by pakistani’s all over the world. What was Mashal Khans fault? he expressed his views. his opinions? his thought on the education system of which he was a part of?

These acts of violence that take part in our country right before our eyes when the government does nothing but overlook them, blaming Mashal Khan for portraying the acts of treason and Blasphemy. It is unbearable to imagine how the brutal murder of a teenage student was overlooked by the government of Pakistan. But that couldn’t stay like that for long as Mashal Khan became the voice of the entire youth of Pakistan that was outraged over the fact that how they could live in a country where an individual had to prepared of all the possible negative outcomes and consequences in return for expressing their own thoughts and opinions. In the light of the major events that took place, the murder of Mashal Khan and the alleged kidnapping of another expressionist for their free speech point the light in one direction- how can the government possibly save us from the merciless mentality of Mashal’s killers?
How can anyone of us be truly secure and at peace- mentally and physically, knowing that the murderers of Mashal Khan are out there and this can happen to anyone?

Freedom of speech seems like nothing but a vague term that is only present intangibly but is also highly inaccessible by all those living in the country of Pakistan. The events of Mashal Khan’s death and the kidnapping of other 26 journalists clearly shows How a harmless opinion can take a form of sadism and ferocity to mend and break a situation.

Are we allowed to express our opinions at all? If yes, then what guarantee do we have that there won’t be another case similar to the one of Mashal  Khan, waiting to be stamped as a case of blasphemy and treason?

Freedom of rights

Human rights are rights for all human beings, whatever the nationality, sex, ethnic origin, color, religion, language or any other status might be. It is based on principles of equality, respect, fairness, and dignity. The human rights cover everyday life from the right to food, health, shelter, education, freedom of expression, religion and thought.

The rights a nation is bond to give is known as civil rights which are

(i) Right to life, liberty and security of persons,

(ii) Right to freedom from slavery

(iii) Right to freedom from inhuman torture or punishment,

(iv) Right to Equality of Persons before law, equal protection of law, right to judicial remedies, and right to freedom from arbitrary arrest, detention or exile,

(v) Right to fair trial,

(vi) Right to freedom of thought, expression, belief, faith, conscience and religion,

(vii) Right to freedom of speech and expression and peaceful assembly,

(viii) Right to vote,

(ix) Right to freedom of movement and right of asylum,

(x) Right to Nationality.

Women rights are an integral part of human rights. For many centuries, men have been the dominant and women have been the minority. Men were the breadwinners and while the women stayed home and took care of the children and housework. The unequal treatment of women is something that should have stayed in primitive times. Gender inequality is something that our society often takes for granted; it is accepted and seems so normal in society nowadays. women face structured disadvantages in many if not all, countries of the world. These differences often seem invisible to most of the people even though it happens in our everyday life in everything from education and employment to the media and politics, without us being aware of it. The notion of being a female is considered to have more challenges than male within also in the mass media. There is an unbalanced and stereotyped representation of women in the media and a lot of the time they are dominated by men in their roles. Gender inequalities traditionally were greatly enforced in media output with women being used in advertisements to sell anything from household items to cars. As well as this, women were often portrayed as ‘objects’ in the media, especially when men’s magazines were first distributed. This still happens in recent times as women are displayed in the magazines mostly for male entertainment which is a major gender inequality as it uses the objectification of women. Another essential part of women rights is promoting equality in the labor fields and maybe have a long lasting initiative to promote equality in all labor fields.

Some people might say that women cannot perform many jobs that men do like construction working, well during World War 2, women were the only ones doing these jobs while all the men were gone to fight in the war. Humanity requires both men and women, and we are equally important and need one another. So why are women viewed as less than equal? These old attitudes are drilled into us from the very beginning. We have to teach the upcoming generation the rules of equality and respect so as they grow up, gender equality becomes a natural way of life.

All human beings have an inherent dignity and are thus entitled to certain rights. Human rights are universally applicable to one and all. These are meant for all individuals of all nations, without there being any discrimination on grounds of caste, class, color, sex, creed, language and religion. We enjoy the rights because we are human but if we take a step back and think why we don’t enjoy them and why the rights are to be violated then one way or another discrimination is a part of the reason. the struggle against discrimination is both a struggle against being denied rights altogether and being accorded lesser rights. Discrimination may take place on the basis of race, nationality, age, disability, caste or religion. A Conference on Human Rights took place in Vienna in 1993 to deal with a newly emerging issue like the universality of human rights and application of a non-selective standard. it said that

“All human beings are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated. The International Community must treat human rights globally in a fair and equal manner on the same footing and with the same emphasis.”

Freedom is necessary to an extent because we are not free to suppress others. Some people think that freedom is the absence of laws, regulation, and restrictions. For some people, freedom is about the avoidance of work and obligation. When people have limited freedom they will rebel but sometimes their acts of rebellion breach the rights of others. This brings us to the complexity of this issue. What is too much freedom and what is not enough? This is the ongoing disagreement on the amount of freedom every individual should have. We need to be protected from those people who would try to take advantage and push the boundaries, without limiting the freedoms of those who are responsible, respectful people.

Social control is another issue that provokes thought and frequently causes a clash of opinion. What is the balance that allows for peace and order without restricting our activity and our choice? Without some social control, there would be chaos. Too much control may also infringe on our basic rights. Human rights have always had a brighter prospect if their right to information assures the people. They must know what is happening around them. Such a mechanism to ensure the right to know if rightly developed can ensure both promotion and protection of human rights and prevention of their violation.

Child Labour in Pakistan

Child labour is an abusive act and it is increasing rapidly all over the world. Developing countries have more rate of child labour due to economic,social and cultural factors. In pakistan most of the child labour working in domestic sector e.g auto mobile workshops,farmlands,small industries,home servant and etc. Child labour is working in such hazardous environment just for the sake of money.

Parents also use their children for begging purposes which is extremely unethical. Most of the child labour is from illiterate and poor families. Lack of importance and awareness of education is the main cause of child labour. Mostly parents hasitate and avoid sending their children to school due to lack of money and they need more hands to earn money.

Child labour is hired as it is less costly as compare to adults and they are offered with high interest rate.

Child labour causes different types of problem among the children e.g mental stress,physical and social harm. Human rights commission of Pakistan surveyed that about 10 million of children are working in different places and most of them are under 10. 215 million children are working worldwide and 73 million are under tge age of 10.

Causes of child labour in Pakistan:

• Poverty
• Lack of employment
• Lack of education
• Demand for child labor
• Gender inequality
• Overpopulation

Many of above factors causes due to economic and political crises. When there is food crises then poor people use their children to earn money otherwise they cannot feed their families. Government plays vital role to overcome the child labor problems.

Impact of child labor is that cbildren are assets of a country and if they do not educate then it will cause negative economic growth in the future. It has negative impact on country’s image or reputation as it is inlawfull and unethical practice.

Children are beaten by home masters which affect them physically and mentally.

As most of the people are aware or above shown girl named as Tayyaba. Her case is still proceeding in the court, she was severly beaten by home owner just because of her lower status in the society. We should protest again such kind of illegal activities because it is against the mankind no matter to whic cast or religion a victim belongs to.

Girls who work at homes they are commonly sexually abused and morally harm. As they work away from the home they are not married which causes other problems for them. Children get involved in illegal activities such as drug trafficking due to lack of supervision by parents.

“Freedom of Right to LIVE”

 Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah laid the foundations of an independent, free nation on 14th August 1947 with a vision that Freedom and Equality in terms of each and every aspect will be granted to every living breathing creature in this country.

“We follow the teachings of the Prophet Mohammed (may peace be upon him). We are members of the brotherhood of Islam in which all are equal in rights, dignity and self-respect.”

Nearly 70 years later, Pakistan as a nation has failed Jinnah’s vision to provide it’s people basic yet the  fundamental RIGHT TO LIVE. According to statistics provided by the UN, the sex ratio currently is  1.05 male(s)/female. Despite the disparity in the numbers, thousands of these girls born are buried alive everyday!

“Jab jeenay ka haq sabko hai, toh humein kyun nahi?

Kya khuli hawa mein saans lena jurm hai? Ke zara se pankh philanay par har dam saza hai..”

Despite calling itself, Islamic Republic of Pakistan and majority of Pakistan’s population being Muslims yet, they’re unable to understand and comprehend the teachings of their religion.

Our religion says,

“The best of mankind is the one whose first offspring is a daughter” (and that he looks after her properly). 

So why is that so many of us girls and women have to fight every day just to merely breathe, to live. Why is there such a question mark constantly hanging on our existence?Why is it that those who give us birth are the one’s who kill us? Why is it that an innocent child is buried alive and is hated without even committing an offence? I mean, what offence could a few minutes/hours/days old newborn even commit?

Oh right, the offence of being born a GIRL-THE LESSER SEX the Burden on Mankind! So, who’s fault is it that this crime was even committed in the first place? any guesses?Well, obviously Women themselves, duh. They are the one’s who were unable to give birth to a boy in the first place. Sorry to break it to you, little to these sexist bigots know that both Parents sperms make the child However, it is the Male sperm determines the sex of the child.

Allah Almighty says, “To Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. He creates what He wills. He bestows children, female or male, according to his will”.

It absolutely breaks my heart that even in 2018 when modernization and westernization has taken over us, we are still being demonized and buried alive to death.When will this genocide stop?

These crimes are committed on a daily basis on the pettiest of excuses. Chand Khan father of a newborn girl in Khanewal, eastern Punjab province, said that he had been
shocked to see a girl and  that she had ‘abnormal features’.Despite the doctors declaring the newborn to be perfectly healthy, she was buried alive.

Another infanticide occurred in Toba Tek Singh, where Farmer  Khalid, of Kassi Gwansan Wali village of Pirmahal  buried his newly-born daughter alive.

When they are holding a beautiful life in their hands and walking towards the graveyard to bury their daughters alive, how do they not think about our beloved Prophet (PBUH) and his immense love for his four daughters? Do they not think about his indisputable Love for Hazrat Fatimah (RA) and the unique bond of affection they shared?

The Prophet (PBUH) had a special place in his heart for Fatimah (RA). Fatimah, of whom Aisha (RA) commented, “[…] When the Prophet saw her approaching, he would welcome her, stand up and kiss her, take her by the hand and sit her down in the place where he was sitting.”

How do the hands of these men and women not tremble when burying their own daughters?

Just because i’m highlighting only  two of a zillion of these incidents DO NOT be mistaken that they don’t happen on a larger scale. They are happening every second of the day by the people around us the only difference is that we are either oblivious to it, desensitized to it and are cowards to not take an action against it.

 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

NO, This is not a joke, this isn’t another meaningless article or another wannabe ‘feminist’ going on a rant. It’ is  a desperate CRY  for Help it’s a PLEA to save lives! All lives matter, everyone deserves to live

so do what needs to be done to stop this genocide.