ISLAM FAILS MISERABLY - PAKISTAN SOCIETY FAILS AND ALSO BECOME
PROSTITUTION CENTRE OF WORLD -
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA
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May 17, 2008
*** IN DEPTH - In Pakistan, a dark trade comes to light
------------- By William Sparrow
BANGKOK - Prostitution in the Islamic nation of Pakistan, once
relegated to dark alleys and small red-light districts, is now seeping
into many neighborhoods of country's urban centers. Re****ts indicate
that since the period of civilian rule ended in 1977, times have
changed and now the *** industry is bustling.
Early military governments and religious groups sought to reform areas
like the famous "Taxali Gate" district of Lahore by displacing
prostitutes and their families in an effort to "reinvent" the
neighborhood.
While displacing the prostitutes might have tem****arily made the
once small red-light district a better neighborhood for a time, it did
little to stop the now dispersed prostitutes from plying their trade.
Reforming a neighborhood, instead of offering education and
alternative op****tunities, appears to be at the core of early failures
to curb the nascent *** industry. This mistake would become a
prophetic error as now the tendrils of the *** trade have become
omnipresent in cities like Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Karachi and Lahore,
not to mention towns, villages and rural outposts.
An aid worker for an Islamabad-based non-governmental organization
(NGO) recently related a story: quickly after his arrival in the
capital, he realized the house next to his own was a Chinese brothel.
The Chinese ability to "franchise" the commercial *** industry by
providing down-trodden Chinese women throughout Asia, North America
and Europe would be admirable in a business sense if it were not for
the atrocities - human trafficking, ***ual slavery and exploitation -
which cloud its practice.
Chinese bordellos, often operating as "massage parlors" or beauty
salons, are across Pakistan, even spread even to war-torn and restive
locations such as the Afghan capital Kabul. Chinese in the ***
industry have developed a cunning ability to recognize areas where the
demand for *** far outstrips the supply.
The NGO worker said that after months of living adjacent to the
brothel things were shaken up - literally. One evening a drunk
Pakistani drove his car into the brothel. Later the driver told
authorities the ramming was a protest by a devout Muslim against the
debauchery of the house and its inhabitants. The NGO worker, however,
had seen the same car parked peacefully outside the house the night
before.
The local *** industry comprised of Pakistani prostitutes has also
grown in recent years. One can easily find videos on YouTube that show
unabashed red-light areas of Lahore. The videos display house after
house with colorfully lit entranceways always with a mamasan and at
least one Pakistani woman in traditional dress. The women are
available for in-house services for as little as 400 rupees (US$6) to
take-away prices ranging 1,000 to 2,000 rupees. These districts are
mostly for locals, but foreigners can indulge at higher prices.
Foreigners in Pakistan have no trouble finding companion****p and may
receive rates similar to locals in downtrodden districts. More upscale
areas like Lahore's Heera Mundi or "Diamond Market", cater to well-
heeled locals and foreigners. At these places prettier, younger girls
push their services for 5,000 to 10,000 rupees for an all-night visit,
and the most exceptional can command 20,000 to 40,000 rupees for just
short time.
Rumors abound online that female TV stars and actresses can be hired
for ***. "You can get film stars for 50,000 to 100,000 rupees but you
need good contacts for that," one blogger wrote after a trip to
Lahore.
"The Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi *** scenes are totally changing
and it's easier and easier to get a girl for [***]," another blogger
wrote. "Most of the hotels provide you the girls upon request."
Bloggers also re****ted that it is easy to find girls prowling the
streets after 6 pm, and foreigners can find young women hanging out
near Western franchises like McDonald's and KFC. Such women, the
bloggers claim, can lead the customer to a nearby short-time
accommodation.
Short-time hotels offering hourly rates can be found all over major
cities, underscoring the profits being reaped by the *** industry.
Pakistan can also accommodate the gay community with prostitution.
Unfortunately, this has also given rise to child prostitution.
A Pakistani blogger wrote, "We [ethnic] Pathans are very fond of boys.
[In Pakistan] the wives are only [had *** with] once or twice a year.
There are lot of gay brothels in Peshawar - the famous among them is
at Ramdas Bazaar. [One can] go to any Afghan restaurant and find young
waiters selling ***."
As in many societies, access to technology, the Internet and mobile
phones has only facilitated the *** trade in Pakistan. "Matchmaking"
websites serve the male clientele, while providing marketing for
prostitutes.
The root causes of prostitution in Pakistan are poverty and a dearth
of op****tunities. Widows find themselves on the streets with mouths to
feed, and for many prostitution offers a quick fix. A local Pakistani
prostitute can earn 2,000 to 3,000 rupees per day compared to the
average monthly income of 2,500 rupees.
Forced prostitution is not rare. Women in hard times are often
exploited and pushed into prostitution. Sandra (not her real name),
said that after the death of her father she was left alone; friends
and relatives deserted her after the grieving period. As a middle-
class, educated woman she was surprised to find herself forced into
prostitution from her office job.
"My boss initially spoiled me at first," she told Khaleej Times.
"[But] now I am in [the *** industry]." Sandra first thought her boss
was being gracious, but quickly learned he was grooming her for ***
for his own pleasure, and then acting as her pimp.
Many of Pakistan's contem****ary ***ual mores may have evolved from
traditional practices. For example, the polygamy permitted in Muslim
society stemmed from the need for larger family units, the better to
sup****t familial ties and tend for widows. Until such ancient customs
are updated, women such as Sandra will continue to be bought and sold.
It's time for Pakistan to admit that prostitution is doing a roaring
trade within its borders, and will continue to prosper until it is
addressed in a modern manner. Let us hope that the people and
government of this proud Muslim country will stop pretending the
problem simply isn't there.
William Sparrow has been an occasional contributor to Asia Times
Online and now joins Asia Times Online with a weekly column. Sparrow
is editor in chief of Asian *** Gazette and has re****ted on *** in
Asia for over five years. To contact him send question or comments to
Letters@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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