Fighting crime by raiding brothels

A video of a Police raid on a brothel in Johar town, Lahore is making rounds on social media now days. That video is thought provoking to say the least. It makes you to think and question not only the quality of policing in our country but also about the problems which serve as the stimulants for committing a crime.   

It is important that we understand that why a woman decides to sell her body. Frankly the women from the video were not nymphomaniacs or sex addicts their customers could be these two things but they were not. The glamorous and unreal portrayal of prostitutes in media, make us to think of them with a more materialistic perspective. There is a need to impart more realistic and humane understanding of the issue and also we should know that a prostitute is not Pretty Woman (1990) or Amrao Jan Ada or Pakeeza.  

The thing is the way those women were treated in that video, only makes me to have sympathy for them. They were doing something that is both illegal and immoral but at the same time risky and unsafe as any exploitation or an abuse by the customer cannot be reported. In short whatever they do, they are not protected by the law. Still knowing the consequences of their action, they did it. The severity of their compulsion has to be examined before making any judgmental statement about them. 

Though many would argue and suggest alternatives but it should be kept in mind that not everyone has the luxury of making a choice. Keeping in mind the recent sluggish economy and the stagnation it is facing, the downsizing and the inflation, it is not hard for any sane person to understand the problems of a common man. It is natural to have an increase in crime in such circumstances and generally it is observed that under such circumstances prostitution tend to increase too. Usually not considered as economic indicators but they surely serve as the indicators of a bad or sluggish economy. It is pertinent to mention here that none of those ill fated women were from any posh locality of Lahore; they belonged to middle class or lower middle class localities.
I am not trying to say that legalize prostitution. I am just saying that kindly show some empathy towards them; arrest them, take whatever actions the law states and permits but do not name or shame them. Be considerate of their problems and reasons.  Once there was a famine in Medina, Hazrat Umar (R. A) was the khalifa, he suspended the punishment of amputation for theft on the premise that state is unable to provide for its citizens and such situations can push an individual to take drastic actions. Today, if we look around we see that many are facing financial hardships. We have to accept that financial recession brings with it rise in the crime rate. It is wrong but hunger and desperation can justify any action.  So, it is very important that we should be considerate of the stimuli behind the crime

The motto of the police states “nafrat jurm say mujrim say nahee” thus videos like these where the offender is ridiculed and humiliated then there is little room left for correction and penance. The police should know that after the punishment the offender has to return to the society, with their identity blown there is very little space for them to return to a normal life and this will push them further in the world of crime and immorality. Above that videos like these do not improve the already tarnished image of our police on the contrary they turn out to be counterproductive and further damage the institution.

تم کہ جو ہزار رنگ ہو

تم کہ جو ہزار رنگ ہو
ہر رنگ میں بھلی لگتی ہو
ہر رنگ میں میری لگتی ہو
وہ دعا جو نصیب کھول دے وہ دعا لگتی ہو
وہ آیت جو زمیں پر اتاری گئی
کہ جس کہ پڑھنے سے ہر آفت دور ہوجائے
وہ آیت لگتی ہو
کمال ہے اس دنیا کا دستور
تم اس دستور سے کی گئی بغاوت لگتی ہو
ہر محفل میں ہے چرچا تیرا
کبھی سرگوشی تو کبھی افواہ لگتی ہو
تجھے دیکھ کر زمانے کے دکھ جھڑتے ہیں
لوگ تیرا نام لے کر آہیں بھرتے ہیں
کبھی معجزہ تو کبھی وعید لگتی ہو
نجم کی چال ہو
یا قسمت کی لکیریں
تجھے کوئی کیسے اپنے بس میں کرے
تجھے کیسے کوئی اپنا کرے
بہت عام ہے تو پھر کیوں سب سے جدا لگتی ہو
میں نے جان لی ہے حقیقت تیری
تیری جستجو بے سود نہیں
تو تو منزل ہے ہی نہیں
میری جاناں تم تو منزل کا رستہ لگتی ہو
تم کہ جو ہزار رنگ ہو
تم کہ جو ہزار رنگ ہو