ISLAMABAD: The civil society held a protest Islamabad Press Club on Wednesday to express solidarity with the family of Noor Mukadam a day before her murder trial is expected to begin.
The peaceful protest has been organised by Noor’s sister Sara Mukadam. A number of celebrities expressed support and asked people to attend the protest. The demonstration was followed by a vigil as a large people gathered in the ground outside the Islamabad Press Club.
Noor’s father and sister attended the protest with placards. This was the first time the family has gathered to speak to the public. The protest was hosted by actor Osman Khalid Butt.
“We see a new hashtag every day. We see injustice every day with women and so, it is so easy to become desensitised,” he said. “As a nation we all need to be reminded that Noor was a living breathing human being with hopes, aspirations, with dreams that were all brutally snuffed out.”
“We must refuse to let Noor become just another number or yet another statistic in the ever-growing cases of intolerance and injustice towards women in our society,” he urged.
He said unfortunately the harassers, abusers, rapists and murderers continue to flourish in society up until the rich, the powerful and the privileged escape prosecution from the law. “This is what must end and inshallah this is what we will achieve,” said the actor.
“I appeal to all the men here, including myself, we must do, we must be and we must act better. We must create a better society for our women. It starts with us. We look to inward and critically examine how we are contributing to a culture of misogyny. It starts with us. Our fight will remain until every mother of this nation, every daughter and every woman of this country is safe and gets justice,” he said.
Noor’s sister Sara recited a poem at the demonstration. “You were my better half, my better version, my soulmate and now I will have to live incomplete without you for the rest of my life,” she said.
Noor’s father Shaukat Ali Mukadam also addressed the crowd expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Imran Khan for following the case. He expressed hope that justice will be served.
He appealed to the chief justice of Pakistan and the chief justice of the Islamabad High Court and the additional sessions judge hearing the case to dispose of the case quickly and award exemplary punishment to the murderer.
“I want all daughters of Pakistan to stay safe. May they never see these days. My mission in life is justice for Noor and for Pakistan’s women to feel safe in their homes, their offices and on the streets. May they never go through things like this, nor their parents.”
Family and friends and other participants paid tribute to Noor. The organisers of the event expressed disappointment that the mainstream media has moved on from coverage of the case. They wished for a speedy trial and the accomplices to receive an exemplary punishment.
After the protest, a candlelight vigil was also held where participants observed a moment of silence in Noor’s memory. A prayer was also recited for Noor and her family.
