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defenders framed criticism as misogyny or silencing of survivors,
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critics framed her supporters as exploiting law to criminalize religious norms,
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neutral legal analysis was drowned out by viral rhetoric.
This is not unique to Muniba Mazari. It reflects a structural problem in Pakistan’s digital public sphere.
Marriage Law as a Political Weapon
A key pattern visible in the broader discussion is the selective invocation of law.
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Marriage statutes are celebrated when used against ideological opponents.
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The same statutes are dismissed as “colonial” or “illegitimate” when inconvenient.
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Religious arguments are mobilized rhetorically, not juridically.
This instrumentalization of law erodes public trust—not because the law is inherently unjust, but because it is applied inconsistently and debated dishonestly.
