WAF & Lyari women On July 9, 2013, fourteen women of Mundra Mohalla and Hingorabad , Lyari, met with Women Action Forum, Karachi. They intensely shared some harrowing tales of harassment and abuse which included: 1. Attack by armed gangs, who also use ‘awan’ a weapon that is hurled at homes and when it burst on contact with a wall a number of self propelled blades are scatted. Sometimes eight such attacks in a day have been experienced. 2. Armed criminals are forcing evacuation of families from their ancestral homes. At times, on loud speakers of a mosque announcement is made that houses should be evacuated. 3. Young me of their area have been shot to death. Death of Shoab was specifically mentioned. He was escorting women to safety when he was shot to death. Attempts to recover the body were thwarted by firing ‘burst’ at the one attempting to recover the body. The next day, the funeral of Shoab was attacked by police with water cannons. 4. Harassment by rangers. This included: a) Use of very abusive language with women b) Pushing women aggressively c) Slapping of women. d) Beating women with a stick e) Snatching of dopatta f) Giving flying kisses g) Placed a 10 year old boy in the position of ‘murgha’ (a form of punishment t). When the mother protested, she was pushed and slapped. h) Masked men, in Rangers uniform, and on the vehicles used by Rangers, were most aggressive. 5. Arms brought in Edhi Ambulances 6. When a young man started recording physical abuse of women by Ranger , his mobile was snatched and not returned. Similarly, some cameras belonging to community memebrs have been taken away by Rangers. WAF, Karachi, and Women of Mundra Mohalla and Hingorabad of Lyari, urge you, to ensure that rights of the women of Mundra Mohalla and Hingorabad of Lyari , by taking the following steps without any delay: 1. All criminals to be apprehended and tired in courts of law. 2. Rangers to be firmly instructed to desist from their abusive behavior and publicly apologize to the women of Mundra Mohalla and Hingorabad 3. Punitive action/s to be taken against those Rangers who were abusive of women and children. 4. Rangers to be withdrawn from the concerned areas and replaced by police. Honest and unbiased police officers to be assigned to the area. Approval of the community to be taken. 5. All displaced families to be assisted in returning to their homes, and compensation paid by the government for the period of displacement.
Posted on: Fri, 12 Jul 2013 05:26:07 +0000
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