We respect Them
Baba Umar
‘It is all about knowing one’s rights’. This is what the young male folk think on the issues that concern mostly women of all age groups. The women folk have always been whining of harassment, stalking, bawdy remarks and indecent approach of their counterparts in the buses they travel. And the male used to repulse this blame by simply saying that ‘they seldom do it’.
However, the present generation of young people is open to anything. They acknowledge it happens with females in the buses, and they also accept that they help girls if such situations arise.“I must say that we need to respect women,” says Zahid Ahmad, a computer student. “I once saw two girls complaining in the bus about pestering at the hands of a man who was just sitting adjacent to them and I kicked him out of the door.”
He says women should also try defend their rights and should call for help when such things happen to them.“But again it’s not fair to blame everything on male travelers,” he says.
“Imagine yourself in the bus packed of girls only. You can’t paint everyone with the same brush. They (girls) too do it.” Zahid is himself a victim of teasing at the hands of girls; however, he feels the teachings of Prophet (SAW) should be upheld at any cost, no matter what comes. “I respect women and I not only offer them my seat in the bus, if they are standing, but I also keep a vigil on any trouble-maker,” says the heavily built Zahid.
When it comes to offering seats, female folk have always caught hold males from collar. Though there is reservation for ladies in the buses, nobody follows the law, creating a “silent rift” between the standing ladies and their seated opposites. Silent in the sense, many think, is because ladies don’t claim for their occupied seats.
“When they are demanding their share in every sphere, why not in the buses too?” asks an elderly person. He says girls have done well in any realm of life and they can make their voice to be heard. “Ladies should forget shyness and ask for the seats reserved for them,” he adds.
In case of an overloaded bus, there are some who would like to offer their seat only to those women who are properly dressed. “Frankly speaking, I won’t offer my seat to a girl if she is wearing something arousing,” says Danish Illahi, a student. “And if something bad happens to them, they are themselves responsible for it, you know what I mean to say,” says he.
Others thank God for creating them as Males. They say travelling in a bus is never a great going for ladies.“I am happy that I was a male offspring of my parents,” smiles Fazal Mehmood, who thinks it a hard going for a girl travelling among the males.“I can understand the plight of a girl at such times, but they need to be vibrant and gutsy,” says he.
On girl’s reaction to any harassment or teasing in the bus, he says, the girl should report the event to police or should seek help from the driver and elders sitting in the bus.“The problem with girls is that they feel it embarrassing to file a case in the police department,” says Mehmood. “Let them break the shackles and fight for their rights.”
The police is also expressing the need of bravery and mettle in the girls who happen to come across any miscreant in the buses.Gulshan Akhter, SHO, Women’s Police Station, Rambagh says, “A girl should be alert while travelling. She should file the report with police after taking the help of co-passengers and driver of the vehicle.”And what could be the possible punishment for such miscreants?“Depends on the type of crime—it’s usually 3-4 months of imprisonment and some fine, “she says. “ But this year we didn’t receive any complaint regarding harassment in the buses,” adds she.
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