The hugely courageous Mukhtar Mai – who was viciously attacked by four men in a remote village in Punjab in 2002 – walked Pakistan Fashion Week in a bid to inspire young women in the country.
The 44-year-old made her debut runway appearance on Tuesday during the country’s annual fashion week. She walked for designer, Rozina Munib, dressed in a stunning mint green salwar kameez.
‘The purpose behind bringing her to Karachi and making her a part of my show is to tell her story so that it gives courage to other women,’ said designer Rozina Munib.
'Mukhtaran suffered terribly but instead of committing suicide or succumbing to depression she stood up for her rights. She won against all odds and moved on with her life.’
Mukthar – who previously won Glamour Woman Of The Year – survived a horrific honour revenge attack when the then 30-year old was raped on orders of Meerwala village council. The council elders used sexual violence as a means of punishment for her 12 year old brother who was falsely accused of having an affair with an older woman from a dominant clan in the village.
Refusing to remain silent about her case, Mukthar took it to the Supreme Court following the acquittal of five out of six of her attackers. Although she was not successful she has remained a stringent vocal advocate for women’s rights, giving hope to voiceless women everywhere.
‘If any girl was in my situation, I would tell her that getting justice is very difficult. But we, as women, should still keep raising our voices. These court systems will have to change,’ she told the Guardian.
‘But if we take this and stay quiet, it’s not good for us. Mothers, sisters, daughters, if we all unite and speak out, eventually we will get justice – if not for ourselves, for future generations.’
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.