American film producer Harvey Weinestien’s harassment story jolted the Hollywood film industry. From actors to writers and other professionals revealed his harassment tactics. He has been ousted from the Hollywood Guild of Producers Association and has now apologised of his actions. However, apology will not resolve the issue. It has reactivated actions against harassment. People these days are now much more aware about the harassment of women in public places - everywhere from schools and universities to governments. Even George Bush Sr realised his mistake and apologised.
In Pakistan, the harassment issue is no different from America. From our assemblies to universities, scandals and harassment cases exist. Recently a professor of the Sindh University was forced to resign due to a case of harassment. Female members of Sindh assembly also registered complaints of harassment time and again. In our professional private institutions, media industry, civil society organisations, courts and banks, women have become target of harassment. Though Pakistan has good enough laws against harassment, there is a need for people to be educated about these laws. Four Mohtsib (ombudsman) offices have been established in all four provinces. However, their activities or decisions about cases of harassment are unknown. Ombudsman offices must work round the clock and release a list of cases and the corresponding decisions that were taken. It will impact the society and create fear against harassment. In the past few years, women in all parliaments and assemblies of Pakistan have faced some form of harassment but not a single punishment was decided by the Speaker. Harassment is like a silent killer of the norms of society. A sane society will never be established if we remain silent. The role of media is also negligible. Our media is booked day and night for political drama and not real public issues. We have a small percentage of women who are playing an active role in society, if they are harassed by their counterparts then this minimal percentage will further decline. I hope the government will impose harassment laws. - The reader is a development consultant based in the UAE
