Pakistani actor Ayesha Omar wants to ride a bike, but society won’t let her. Highlighting the dire conditions of women’s safety in the country, Omar explains how she no longer feels safe in her homeland and announced the decision to leave Pakistan last week. Several men commented such incidents could never occur in Pakistan.
Speaking on a podcast with Adnan Faisal, CEO of FHM Pakistan, Omar said, “I don’t feel safe here [Pakistan]. I want to be able to walk on the road. It’s a basic human need to be able to walk outside in the open air. Isn’t it sad? I don’t want to sit in a car. I want to cycle. Why can’t I ride a bike?”
The disgruntled actor spoke about her anxiety living in Karachi after getting robbed twice and being unable to stay outdoors without the fear of being kidnapped, raped, or mugged. “Crime happens in every country, but you can still go out and walk freely. I can’t even go to a park [in Pakistan] without being harassed.”
Omar is known for speaking out on harassment against women, even discussing her personal experiences from childhood publicly. Various social media users applauded the actor for discussing a crucial social issue, calling her the “smartest actor in the business”.
this reminds of a convo i had with my brother about smth similar where he said he feels at ease in pakistan, with the company he has (while i was ranting ab how i felt out of place etc) i said obv you will thrive the society here is catered to you and he was stunned- https://t.co/RGNN5BoPao
— zeba (@shrbyt) December 14, 2023
Pakistani men can’t take it
Meanwhile, Pakistani men found it inconceivable that women experienced such harassment. “Group of men cannot simply harass any woman on the road,” posted a user on X, adding that Pakistan as a whole should not be generalised, as conditions are better in Punjab.
“Yar, kya karen phr mard chorden Pakistan ko? Mujhe to yhi lgta hai ek hal (Should all men just leave Pakistan then? That’s the only solution I can see),” he said.
A user on X complained that despite getting several privileges, women simply can’t stop crying. “Bus me in k liye separate compartment hai, ye jaha jati hain inko priority serve kiya jata hai phr b inka rona khatam nai hota (They have a separate compartment in buses. Wherever they go, they are given priority. But they can’t stop crying).”
bus me in k liye seperate compartment hai ye jaha jati hain inko priority serve kiya jata hai phr b inka rona khatam nai hota
— Hussain Abbas (@shussainabbas) December 14, 2023
Some blamed Omar’s outfit choices, while others blamed her kartoot (deeds) for the harassment. “She wants to roam around in short clothes, show off her naked body and sell herself. If you want to do all this, then don’t stay in Pakistan and go to some other country,” a user said on X.
Isko adhy kapry pehn kr ghumna hai.
Isko apni nangi body dekha kr khud ko bechna hai.
Bibi agar yahi sab chahye to Pakistan ma to ni ho sakta han albata ksi dosry mulk chali jao whan easily ho jai ga.
— Mobin (@mobin_911) December 13, 2023
However, many users called out these users for criticising Omar while restricting women in their own families.
Men are crying underneath, as if men don't restrict the clothing choices and mobility of their own sisters, wives, & daughters. Usually not out of conservatism but out of concern that's rooted in fear. Even men subconsciously agree that public spaces aren't safe for women. https://t.co/nHwDSKvjCS
— 🔻Keats' Hoodrat Darling 🇵🇸 (@astrayrenegade) December 13, 2023
A few others pointed out that not just women, no one can walk safely in Pakistan.
Its a country where even men rnt safe to walk freely, and fact is where is the space to walk in this country?
— Abid Masood (@habidz) December 13, 2023
It just gave validation to what Omar said on the podcast: “Men can never understand what Pakistani women grow up with, no matter how hard you try. The fear a woman faces in this country cannot be understood [by a man]. You feel anxious every second.”
Despite these issues, the actor said that she loves Pakistan, as the nation has given her everything. “I love the land and if I had the choice to choose from anywhere in the world to live, I would choose Pakistan,” she said.