Acid on Face An Acid Attack on Society- High Time for New Social Agreement

Philosophers argue that tolerance is not a moral absolute, but rather a practical social norm—a “peace treaty” that allows deeply divided people to coexist without constant conflict.

The recent acid attack on a female doctor in Quetta known as “The Fruit Garden of Pakistan” and the city emerging with a healthy literacy rate in recent years, this attack was not merely an attack on a female doctor but on the face of humanity, religious clerics, human dignity and the very idea of a “Civilized Pakistan”. When any women in the World from Latin America to Quetta face such barbarism, its not an attack on the face only but deep down on the soul which leaves a scar not only on the women but on the family, a trauma for years, fear, restless nights and overall on our daughters, sisters and mothers that how long they have to bear the fate of being a “Female Slave”.

These incidents now must rise a loud question among the academic circle, policy makers and on all segments of the society. How long the Feudalistic approach, Tribal Jirgas or any individual still choose extremism over dialogue? Why in recent past women after death faced “Rape”? and can a society stuck between the arms of nostalgic success, tradition and norms evolve to peace, harmony and progress.

Pakistan as a country with larger population of youth has emerged in education, technology, merit based opportunities and overall increase in philosophical thought with higher literacy but still a a larger segment lives with the less broader mind set on humanistic approach to forgive the daily live matters, personal issues, grievances and difference of opinion. This difference ultimately gives birth to such incidents where still parental control is high in decision making, elder siblings not accepting your wit and to the larger segments of not accepting ground realities.

A country where co-education exist with pride and shame at the same time, a smaller portion of females are given opportunities and freedom to travel and work but in the later part things changes for them drastically because of the deep rooted pathetic system of unleashing outdated norms which has already been removed from other “emerging countries” already.

A society where the dispute is minor or major, emotional or personal, there are still people who consider themselves judge, jury, and executioner. Instead of seeking justice through legal institutions, they seek satisfaction through destruction. This mentality is not strength; it is a failure of moral and intellectual development, it is very common and still disgraceful for us humans to hear remarks on female dressing in the market, judge a female on a bike and this goes on still among a larger proportion of society in Pakistan.

We live in a society where a man can proudly hold a bottle of whiskey but a female still has to take care of the male societal ego and hatred, we can easily find men clothing shops but a female shop has to be hidden under a thick carpet making it “Seen Invisibles” but it exist as a truth which cannot be removed until human existence.

At the same time, John Locke emphasized that governments exist to protect life, liberty, and property. When society witnesses violence against women, professionals, or minorities, public confidence in justice weakens. Citizens begin to wonder whether education and hard work can truly protect them. Therefore, swift legal action is not only punishment for a criminal but reassurance for society that justice still matters.

Pakistan’s challenge is therefore not only legal but cultural. Schools must teach empathy alongside mathematics. Families must teach patience alongside ambition. Religious leaders, educators, and media personalities must emphasize that dignity is preserved through self-control, not violence. The strongest person is not the one who can inflict harm but the one who can control anger when provoked.

The attack on the female doctor in Quetta should therefore serve as a national moment of reflection. It reminds us that professional success, especially among women, must be protected rather than threatened. It reminds us that justice belongs in courtrooms, not in the hands of angry individuals, Tribal Jirgas and Feudal Lords hidden under any cover. Most importantly, it reminds us that extremism is not defeated solely through policing; it is defeated when society collectively rejects the belief that violence is an acceptable response to pain, rejection, or disagreement.

Today we have to start teaching our males from birth, If we accept the term “Male Feminism” in broader perspective a lot issues can be resolved in very less time. Women will retaliate, argue, fight, show power which is the due process of decades burdened upon them by society and individuals as a whole. Lets join hand in accepting and promote dialogue with Women to bring upon a mutual agreement which is the need of human society in Pakistan now.

As Abdul Ul Hameed Adm expressed,

The Creator shaped the vast universe into being,
But its grace, elegance, and splendor were embodied in women

Note: This is a dedication and an effort to promote peace and dialogue among all segments of society, with urge to have a new social agreement among men and women.