Monthly Archives: July 2022

Nirma’s Murder – A Transwoman Failed by the Justice System

They are abandoned, disowned, and discarded without a bat of an eye by their own families – but when it comes to reaping their blood money as a result of their inhumane killing, all familial ties suddenly remerge. Such is the fateful story of a transgendered person Nirma, who was brutally murdered in Peshawar. While…

Beyond the Physical Infirmity: Kiran Ishtiaq – Manifesting Her Destiny

Kiran Ishtiaq from Cholistan was born without both her limbs. She has always despised when others look at her with pity and has taken it upon herself to prove to people that she is no different than them. Even though she is restricted to her wheelchair, she has tried to make the best of her…

Beating the odds: The Unfinished Story of Harvinder Devi

The struggle of Harvinder Devi continues to date, her journey of how far she has come over the years is an eye-opener for many. The challenges pitted against her started from her childhood and continued throughout her life. Yet, she tried to regain her resolve every time she was faced with a trial. Harvinder from…

Woman of Steel: The Undeterred Strength of Advocate Parveen Atta

In a patriarchal society like ours, women are discouraged from being independent, they are punished for trying to exercise their agency, are denied equal rights and their failure to comply with societal dictates can cost them their lives. Parveen Atta is a living embodiment of the societal unwillingness to accept a woman who chooses to…

Challenging the Status Quo: Tahira, The Relentless Young Woman of Baroghal

Belonging to the upper Chitral valley, Baroghal – Tahira begum (26) is the first educated woman in the valley. This is the story of sheer commitment and courage of a relentless woman who defied all boundaries to gain an education and make efforts to turn the tide of illiteracy in the valley of Baroghal. Her…

In the Shackles of An Abusive Marriage: Sakina’s encounter with Watta Satta

Sakina’s swollen face, bruised cheeks, and marks on her hands and feet point to the obvious – she has been subjected to domestic violence. Her ordeals are shared by many women in the country, and her story reflects and answers to an extent why women do not leave their abusive marriages. Sitting still with disheveled…

The Merciless World of Child Labour: An Account of Hira’s Exploitation

At the age when Hira should be getting up early in the morning and getting ready to go to school, she wakes up at the crack of dawn to go to work. Hira is a young child; her demeanor and physique display that she is not more than 14 years of age. Her childhood has…

Hindu and Women: Pooja’s Murder Awaits Justice

Not a day goes by that the country hears about a woman being killed mercilessly. It is the dark reality of this patriarchal society where a woman is expected to be subservient and assimilate to the conditions that are deemed acceptable by it. The ones who rebel, more often than not, end up losing their…

Defying Disability: Bhagwaandas, The Epitome of Courage and Humanity

Hailing from the famine-struck region of Tharparkar, Bhagwaandas has defied all challenges to achieve his current merits. His story is that of passion, persistence, and resilience that made him come out to be victorious against all odds. Bhagwaandas suffered from polio and lost the ability to walk very early on in his childhood. Instead of…

The Wages of Childhood Marriage: Sidra’s Life with Fistula

With an eerie silence surrounding the small house, sits a ghost-like figure with barely enough flesh on her face. When asked to narrate her story, Sidra rounds up just enough energy to speak through her parched lips. Looking closely at her one sees the hollowness in her eyes. She is young, but the years have…