Veena Malik’s censure shows Pak society’s “double standards”: Editorial

ISLAMABAD - The conservative censure faced by Pakistani actress Veena Malik for cavorting with a Hindu man during her stint on an Indian reality TV show depicts the Pakistani society’s ‘double standards’ bolstered by its sanctimonious hypocrisy, an editorial in a Pakistani newspaper has said.

“Since Ms Malik happened to visit India, she is deemed to have caused an insult to her country because she dressed in a manner that was unbecoming of a Pakistani woman (this conveniently ignores the fact that women in this country do sometimes dress in a similar manner) and cavorted with a Hindu man,” The Express Tribune editorial said.

“The latter shows double standards as well, perpetuated by the patriarchal and misogynistic society that has evolved in Pakistan over the years,” it added.

The editorial stated that if a Pakistani man had gone on the same show and befriended a Hindu girl, these same people would have been applauding him and his behaviour.

“This is based on the misguided notion that a country’s honour is somehow tied to that of its women. If there’s something this country’s good at, it’s sanctimonious hypocrisy,” it noted.

The editorial contended that one does not expect Malik to don a burqa on the show, as she is an entertainer.

“Besides, let us not lose sight of the sanctimonious hypocrisy that characterises this issue, since one can say with some certitude, that many of those who are now disapproving of her behaviour on the show and equating it with an insult for Pakistan would have regularly watched the programme,” it added. (ANI)