Pakistan groups hold candle light vigil for Indian rape victim

[iam not greek]

Islamabad:*Members of Pakistani civil society groups held a candle light vigil in the capital to express outrage at the gang rape of a young woman in India and to show solidarity with Indian civil society's demand for stronger laws to punish rapists.

The protesters lit candles and shouted slogans like "We show solidarity with women in India" and "We will stand up for women everywhere".

A number of passers-by joined the gathering at Super Market in the heart of Islamabad on Monday evening and expressed grief at the gang rape that triggered protests across India.


The vigil was organised by the Potohar Organization of Development Advocacy, Sisters Trust Pakistan and Women's International League for Peace and Freedom.

Several persons who addressed the gathering demanded the death penalty for rapists while others favoured strict punishment, including life imprisonment.

"Violence against women in any part of the world diminishes all of us. Therefore we are here to show solidarity with the women of India and to express our resolve to end violence against all women," Sameena Nazir, director of Potohar Organization of Development Advocacy, was quoted as saying by the media.

The civil society groups will continue to raise their voice whenever there is violence against women in Pakistan, India or anywhere in the world.

"The media in India and Pakistan must play its role in stopping violence against women," she said.

Rehana Hashmi, president of Sisters Trust Pakistan, said there were no borders in showing solidarity for women's rights.

"We strongly condemn the brutal violence against the female medical student in India and demand strict punishment for those who committed or supported this crime," she said.

Poet and rights activist Harris Khalique said: "After this barbaric incident, we need to question where are the values of Sufism, Buddism and non-violence that India and Pakistan always advocate".

Rukhshinda Parveen from the NGO Rakshi said societies must stop blaming women for cases of violence against them.

"Men and boys need to be educated that women's bodies are not commodities and all women are worth respect, no matter what dress they wear or how they look," she said.

The gathering observed a moment of silence for the victim of the gang rape in India and demanded a law on domestic violence against women in Pakistan.

Pakistan groups hold candle light vigil for Indian rape victim | NDTV.com

 

[Markus]

Thats very nice of them.

 

[KRAIT]

Hope the protest spreads in both countries until stricter law are not introduced.

 

[BATMAN]

Asif ALi Zardari has turned Pakistan into a Indian proxy regime.

Why not Pakistani lit candles for rape victims of Kashmir or US?

Why hold sponsors of TTP so dear?

 

[Farooq]

this is a good way to show solidarity with our neighbors... politics aside we are human at the end of the day

 

[lightoftruth]

nice, i wish such civil society‘s increase their influence in pakistan.

 

[Backbencher]

Thankyou dear Pakistanis . We urgently need to work together to increase the status of a south asian women and tighten the screws on unfortunate incidents such as rapes .

 

[walwal]

Good gesture.

 

[LURKER]

Some civil society groups demonstrated for Malala Yosoufzai in India too

 

[KRAIT]

Asif ALi Zardari has turned Pakistan into a Indian proxy regime.
Why not Pakistani lit candles for rape victims of Kashmir or US?
Why hold sponsors of TTP so dear?

So you don't want protest for a crime which shook entire India and YOU yourself participated in the discussion related to this crime to bash India. Does it gets any weirder ?

Also, what's wrong with the protest if they are demanding laws for Pakistani women too ?

So stop trolling in this thread at least. Go open a new thread for rapes in Kashmir.

 

[Not Sure]

Asif ALi Zardari has turned Pakistan into a Indian proxy regime.

Why not Pakistani lit candles for rape victims of Kashmir or US?

Why hold sponsors of TTP so dear?

Zardari did not ask them to hold the candle light vigil.

People always react to what goes on in the media. This particular case made it sudden and big all over the world, thus the gesture, and show of solidarity.

Banging your head on the wall incessantly, you look very concerned about the victims in Pakistan. Before you criticize others, please do tell us, how often do you light candles for the rape victims in Pakistan?

 

[Farooq]

Asif ALi Zardari has turned Pakistan into a Indian proxy regime.

Why not Pakistani lit candles for rape victims of Kashmir or US?

Why hold sponsors of TTP so dear?

What does this have to do with Zardari and co?

 

[Cherokee]

Very Warm gesture . Its like Indian groups holding candlelight vigil for Malala . On humane issues seeing this new light of cooperation between India and Pakistan is Heartwarming .

 

[joekrish]

great show.

 

[Rajaraja Chola]

Good gesture. Its a common problem in South Asia. Awareness must be spread and strict laws must be established.