Ayyan Ali: trial of an accused or disgrace of a woman?

Photo credit: Facebook 

Although, everyone is against the illegal transfer of money, called money laundering, yet the drama being staged on the national media is deplorable and a blatant example of yellow journalism in Pakistan.

Supermodel Ayyan Ali, who is now a day front-page colour photograph of the newspapers and a source of entertainment as part of the yellow journalism of the electronic media, was arrested in money-laundering charges from Benazir International Airport on March 14, 2015 by customs officials.

Since then, she has been produced for a number of times in the court but the court is yet to formally convict her in the charges against her of smuggling around US$0.5 million abroad.

Flawed judicial system

Nobody will support the illegal business of money laundering but the way the country’s media is treating the model in their bulletins, is just a disgrace of a woman. 

If she is guilty, she must be sent to the jail after formal conviction. But unfortunately our judicial system is as weaker and flawed which is even unable to convict the soft target, Ayyan Ali and how could it be effective in the cases of hardcore militants.

Sexually frustrated society

I am neither representing the extremist’s mindset to raise objection on the dressing and western style appearance of the model in the court hearings nor have any sympathy but I do have sympathy with a woman who is disgracing in such a way which does not suit in our society.

The [male] police personnel escorting the model to the court could be seen arm-in-arm in the pretext of providing security in such a way they could be seen when a hardcore militant is presenting before any court.   

Photo credit: Facebook

Photo credit: Facebook

Photo credit: Facebook 

Photo credit: Facebook 

These photographs are self-explanatory of the laughing faces and the frustrated crowded around the model not only in this case but in each hearing she is appearing before the court

Discriminatory dispensation of justice

There are a lot of examples of corruption against many bigwigs even of the money laundering by politicians including against the sitting premier Money-laundering charge: LHC larger bench to hear case against Premier Nawaz and the graft cases former president Pak SC lists criminal, graft cases against President Zardari. But the popular proverb “one law for the rich and another for the poor” is well applicable in this case too. 

Supermodel 

Ayyan Ali who started her career as model at the age of 16 and have won a number of awards including U.S. Consulate General ‘Women’s Day award in 2009, Miss Calvin Klein Beauty award in 2011, Pakistan Media Awards in 2012, Hum Awards 2012, Veet Awards and Express Tribune Awards 2013. 

In 2014, she won three awards including Pakistan Media Awards [Beauty icon of the year], Pakistan Media Awards [Best Female Model] and Beauty icon of the year.
Ayyan (model)

  

Plight of the street children

Street children in Islamabad. Photo--AFP  

I am not sure how seriously we notice them while roaming on the streets of the federal capital Islamabad, these kids really deserved much care.

At this young age when they are supposed to carry school bags but the poverty has forced them holding large bags on their shoulders, collecting their daily “food” from the garbage for obvious reason. These scavenger kids can bee seen on various streets and every they pass a smile to the passerby, in fact, convey a lot. But the hectic life or some other reasons will never allow us to reciprocate with kind gesture. 

Out of school children

Despite tall claims of the government under the slogan “every child must go to school”, there are still 25 million out of school in Pakistan, according to ‘State of Pakistan’s Children Report’ by Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC) released on April 16, 2015. For detail click here
25 million children out of school in Pakistan  

Mohammed Ayub, a 57-year-old government worker, sits among students from poor families at a makeshift school set up in a park in Islamabad, Pakistan. Ayub has dedicated most of his life to teaching the less fortunate of this city. For three decades, children who might otherwise have gotten no education sat through his classes. Photo credit DW

Responsibility of the government

The basic responsibility comes on the shoulder of the government to protect rights of the children and ensure that every child must get education. But every time, their claims made in their parties manifestos, remain in the documents.  

Role of civil societies or NGOs

While there are dozens of NGOs receiving foreign funds on the name of kids’ rights but their work can only be seen in newspapers. As seen in the last 12 years of my journalistic experience, the NGOs’ bosses are much concerned for publication of their stories to attract donors instead of reaching out to these kids.

Health hazards

As they are directly exposed to garbage and trash, these children are suffering from various diseases. Since, we’ve totally neglected these children; therefore, there is no awareness and sense of responsibility at any level to establish treatment centers and health facilities especially for them. We need our faith-based and community partners to save them from various diseases.

Our responsibility

Government alone is not responsible for the sad story of these kids. We as member of the society also have a duty at least to extend a kind gesture to them if we cannot help them financially. 

Scavenger boys in Islamabad collecting recyclable items from garbage. Photo -AP  

We have often neglected these trash collecting children as Afghans. But, don’t we know that Afghans are also human being and they also need what people in other parts of the world need. 

They deserved to be treated very specially and it also becomes our responsibility to extend a helping hand in our capacity.