#MinarePakistan – Hundreds Assault Female TikToker On Independence Day
The recapture of Afghanistan by the Taliban may have put fear in the hearts of women about their freedom and basic existence, but the recent scenes from #MinarePakistan remind us that we are faring no better.
In a shocking incident, a female TikToker was assaulted by hundreds of people in Lahore, Pakistan. The Lahori Police on Tuesday registered a case against unidentified persons for assaulting and stealing from the victim and her companions at the city’s Greater Iqbal Park on Pakistan’s Independence Day.
I’m ashamed to be a man today. I feel angry & just very ashamed. And so should you & everyone else, after what happened at #MinarePakistan. I pray for justice & riddance from such inhuman creatures.
— Asim Azhar (@AsimAzharr) August 18, 2021
The complainant, in the First Information Report (FIR), lodged at the Lorry Adda police station, said that she, along with her six companions, was filming a video near #MinarePakistan on Independence Day on Saturday when around 300 to 400 people “attacked” them, Dawn newspaper reported.
She and her companions made a lot of effort to escape from the mob but to no avail. “The crowd was huge and people were scaling the enclosure and coming towards us. People were pushing and pulling me to the extent that they tore my clothes. Several people tried to help me but the crowd was too huge and they kept throwing me in the air,” she said, adding that her companions were also assaulted.
Disgusted at the misogyny popping up everywhere in questioning a girl’s clothing,life,right to public spaces after the heinous #minarepakistan mass-abuse of a tiktok star.All of the public predators should be in jail;people sharing the video should be ashamed of salacious posting
— SenatorSherryRehman (@sherryrehman) August 18, 2021
The FIR was registered under Sections 354 A (assault or use of criminal force against woman and stripping her of her clothes), 382 (theft after preparation made for causing death, hurt or restraint in order to commit the theft), 147 (rioting) and 149 (unlawful assembly) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
Meanwhile, Lahore DIG (Operations) Sajid Kiywani has ordered the superintendent of police (SP) to take “immediate legal action” against the suspects involved in the incident, according to a report by the Dawn newspaper.
TikTok is quite popular in Pakistan with over 39 million downloads, but has been banned and restored multiple times in the country over accusations that the platform spreads ‘immorality’ and ‘obscenity’.
I can’t believe what I just saw!!! I’ve said it before and I will say it again – make an example out of these men!
#MinarePakistan— Mahira Khan (@TheMahiraKhan) August 17, 2021
A video of the incident started circulating on social media with #MinarePakistan trending on Twitter and citizens expressed anger over the actions of the men in the video. The latest incident comes amid renewed focus on violence against women in Pakistan.
The girl screams for help as she’s groped by hundreds of men. There is Azaan going on in the background.
I’m finding it hard to wrap my head around that scenario. #minarepakistan
— Shahveer Jafry (@shahveerjaay) August 17, 2021
We ask ourselves again, till when will we continue to see such incidents where women are harassed for trying to be more independent and moving on with time. Till how long will the Taliban within us continue to rule every step taken by women in our community.
