Women rush to buy pepper sprays, pocket knives post motorway rape incident

 In the wake of the motorway rape incident, which has triggered fear and anxiety in all of Pakistan, pepper sprays, pocket knives and all kinds of self-defence items are flying off the shelves as concerned women take personal safety in their own hands.

In the days following the incident, distressed social media users could be seen frantically searching online for protective equipment they could use for personal safety.

Not only that, store owners are also reporting that they are now stocking pepper spray next to other essentials at payment counters to cater to a sudden rise in demand from customers.

“It is probably for the first time in decades that we are selling pepper sprays at our store — that too, after scores of women, especially young girls of school-going age, asked for this item in particular at our counters,” said a mart owner in a bustling neighbourhood of Karachi’s Saddar area. 

Huma Naz, resident of Rawalpindi and a mother of four daughters, shared that she was terrified after the sudden increase in reporting of sexual assault cases in the country. She instantly ordered pepper spray from an online store for each of her daughters, which she plans to keep in their school bags once they resume going to school in the weeks ahead.

“My husband and I have also searched for a self-defence instructor for our daughters who will teach them at least the basics after school so that they don’t have to wait for help in case [God forbid] they meet an unfortunate and unexpected situation,” Naz said.