A few days back on 11th July 2020, Constable Wafa from Punjab was fired for making a Tiktok video in uniform without any prior warning. Being the sole breadwinner of her family, Wafa shared a heart breaking video asking the officials to reconsider their decision:
EX Lady Constable Wafa who got dismissed for making tiktok videos telling her financial condition she is only bread earner for whole family ..
She must be reinstated on compassionate grounds 🙏 pic.twitter.com/wc7J8dmpDc— Khurram (@Khurram_zakir) July 24, 2020
The video, which has now gone viral, has people urging the officials to reconsider their decision on compassionate grounds:
Seriously @OfficialDPRPP @GovtOfPunjab @UsmanAKBuzdar this is digital age of tech, social media, mobiles. Get ovr ur obsolete, outdated, primitive system and besides upgrading that RETURN this constable her job! U hav bigger issues within dept like corruption, incompetence
— Sheharyar Rizwan (@sheharyarizwan) July 24, 2020
People were sharing videos of other police officers who had videos in uniform:
A police officer can be seen taking part in a TikTok video. Besides, misuse of authority in the form of using police siren and lights of ”green number plate” is visible in this video. But wait, let’s dismiss this lady police officer only and close the case. Wheres the law at? 😂 pic.twitter.com/BLlnHakfrr
— Hashim. (@SardarHashim) July 25, 2020
People were saddened at the injustice:
They've let constables off for murder with no less than a warning. This is just cruel. God forbid a woman expresses or enjoys herself in Pakistan. Or worse! A woman makes a mistake! Really sad. https://t.co/MA2Blwm7kV
— Dr. Jamshaid (@JammanKhattak) July 24, 2020
People shared how the punishment is far more than her misconduct:
Her punishment is far more than her misconduct. https://t.co/zcTDDofgfL
— Mehr Khalid Ahmad (@mehrkhalid29) July 25, 2020
People wanted to know what the law has to say:
Under which law she was dismissed with utter disregard of service rules??? https://t.co/V6CpAeQPND
— Mirza Waheed Ahmad (@MirzaWaheedAhmd) July 25, 2020
People were just done with the society that we live in:
She got dismissed for making tiktok vidros…its her life n she has got all the right to do whatever the hell she wants…This Society Sucks..🤮
Bygairtho https://t.co/cbVjPbin3u
— Rokhana (@rikhtya) July 25, 2020
People were sharing how no action would have been taken had the roles been reversed:
If male constable had done something like that no one would bat an eye. https://t.co/RrpkGRZBpi
— No-man (@legharified) July 24, 2020
Exactly!
Getting dismissed for making tiktok video is way too harsh. https://t.co/VDuANjFj3Q
— Salman Ahmed (@Salman3920) July 24, 2020
There were more examples shared:
Famous Tiktoker ‘Jannat Mirza’ whose father is also a police officer was seen with her in her Tiktok videos(which is not wrong in my opinion).
Why was he not dismissed?
The law is the same for everyone. https://t.co/TumbpB1XcD— Farid Hussain (@FaridHu52266390) July 24, 2020
People were calling out on the hypocrisy!
You can see a large number of Police men making videos on TikTok but they decided to lay off a woman. Shame. https://t.co/TK4QznIgnG
— – Muhammad S. Ali (@AlpSufyan) July 25, 2020
Agreed!
We need to change the code of conduct to make it more humane and in line with constitutionally protected freedoms. Our abhorrence for personal choices have made us not only rotten but cruel in many instances. https://t.co/IxlhjhVeoi
— Muhammad Hanif Gul (@Voice4Peace1) July 24, 2020
Many urged the government to look into the matter:
Pls reinstate her. 🙏
Do something PTI, for once! https://t.co/orDls5rVUs
— Fatah (@fatah_pak) July 24, 2020
Jo baat hai!
Punjab police must learn that you can't kill a fly with a missile.
Making video in uniform does require an action but not dismissal for God sake.
Ppl have stained hand of alleged fake encounters and survive and retire honourably.
Take actions that you can be proud of. https://t.co/OH8Mn0dPAP— Mickey Gill (@Micks_it) July 24, 2020
People were appalled at the inequality:
Dismissing people over making some light hearted videos is appalling. We are shy of expelling the corrupt and dishonest officers but quick to get rid of any one who just a common employee… @UdarOfficial @UsmanAKBuzdar https://t.co/OIb3Wm7ds8
— جے چودھری (@J94Chaudhry) July 25, 2020
Some had questions:
Why on compassionate grounds? What hell did an innocent tiktok video break? Are we really a nation or just cruel monsters? https://t.co/hA9aaVyquv
— Raheel (@009barca) July 24, 2020
Some threw shade at the country:
Its forbidden to have fun in this cuntry https://t.co/gONN3JTB4z
— Hoe for growth (@Affanarchist) July 24, 2020
Waiting for the day the country realizes how big of a problem this is:
This country is anti-women. I wonder when will people realize this and fix what's wrong. https://t.co/UbbNPxqs81
— Ali Sufian (@alisufianx) July 25, 2020
Kya keh saktay hain:
Pakistan is a country where a Police person can be filmed taking bribe and retain his job but making a tiktok is a bigger crime. https://t.co/WcklLfFPgJ
— M. Sarosh Ebrahim (@msarosh) July 24, 2020
What do you think about this decision? Should the higher ups reconsider? Let us know in the comments below!