With the arrival of the acquitted men back in the village, Mukhtar Mai is now fearful for her security. The programme manager for the Mukhtar Mai Women’s Organisation and her spokesperson, Naeem Malik, tells Newsline that since the release of the five men on April 26, frantic requests were made to media and government senior officials to help avert any potential harm to her.

There was a flurry of activity in the next 24 hours: Mukhtar Mai and her organisation made calls, sent out letters and even appealed to Rana Sanaullah on a live television show for security. MNA Sherry Rehman took up the matter with the federal interior minister; the National Commission on the Status of Women sent a letter of request to Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and the IG Punjab; and activists and citizens with links to anyone within the government and media tried to push the issue of Mukhtar Mai’s security. And finally, later in the day on April 27, the intervention produced results and six policemen were deputed outside Mukhtar Mai’s residence.

Meanwhile, the acquitted, who on their release chanted slogans against Mukhtar Mai, were thrown a festive bash back home, and mithai was distributed. People will argue that this is but a natural reaction. After all, the Supreme Court found them guilty of no crime, and now they have returned home and been reunited with their families after some years: for them, it is an occasion to celebrate. As for Mukhtar Mai, they claim she is just overreacting.

Overreacting because she was gang-raped? Or overreacting because she is scared that the acquitted will want to avenge their years in jail? Or maybe because in this country, not just in her case, but in many, it is easier for a person to commit a crime and get away with it, than to commit a crime and be punished for it.

The crime that was committed against her is mentioned only in passing. That of course is not the important argument. What’s important for people is whether the threat to her is ‘real’: whether she deserves security.

The common man knows exactly how the truth is moulded to suit personal and political agendas. But frighteningly, he is buying more and more into the dirty tactics of those trying to mould public opinion for their own gains. By stooping to character assassination, there seems to be a concerted effort to cast a shadow of doubt about Mukhtar Mai’s case and character. Be it TV anchors or government representatives, people are involved in the dirty game of victimising the victim and are aggressively hammering home the view that there is no credible case there at all.

Rape survivors know only too well the dynamics of such a situation, especially when they are up against those with political clout. They also know what it is like to be promised aid by government officials and never hear from them again. To be the media darlings and then be dumped when they aren’t “newsworthy” anymore. Theirs is a daily struggle, and while they have the strength, they look for some respite to keep them going. Dismissive attitudes don’t help, especially not when the law enforcers and policemen are the first to taunt, saying to those who come to file an FIR for rape, “Barri aiee Mukhtar Mai banain.” (See also this article for an exploration of women-related legislation and misogynistic attitudes that exist in our society). Who knows how they will ridicule women who go to file an FIR for rape now, or whether they will go to file one at all.

It took great resolve for Mukhtar Mai to agree to the review, because she had lost heart. But eventually she decided to persist in her struggle. This is what Mukhtar Mai had to say: “Please keep the issue alive. They have strengthened jirgas and waderas (feudals) back home and let down the poor women of Pakistan. Let’s fight it together.”

So naturally, now that the acquitted are living only some miles away from where she does and have exercised considerable political clout, she has concerns for her safety, especially while the review process runs its course.

But what it really boils down to now is public opinion: in the end, it is opinion and the mindsets that dictate the tone for justice. There is nothing criminals celebrate more than for their crime to not be considered a crime. So when murder and rape take place, don’t invent excuses for them. Call them murder and rape, and condemn them for what they are: atrocious acts against humanity. Acts that can be committed against any one us any day. But no one will care, because we certainly don’t when the same happens to others.

From our archives:

• The crime is only the beginning of a tougher life. There is the arduous legal route (see “The Legal Trauma of Rape”) which poses hurdles of its own, and social ostracism that rape survivors and their families have to contend with.

Below are a few more articles that look at the lives of those affected by rape:

• “Fight to the Finish”: While the Women’s Protection Act 2006 solved one of the many legal hurdles that lie in the way of a survivor seeking justice, many remain to be faced.
• Interview with Hamza Lubano: His daughter Naseema Lubano was a victim of gang rape, and the family had to flee their village.
• Newsline speaks to the parents of a 14-year-old girl who was raped.

For more articles on Mukhtar Mai, search our archives using the terms “Mukhtar Mai” or “Mukhtaran Mai.”