Buying Sex in Pakistan
Most of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan once were ruled by a dynasty of kings called the Mughals, who were great patrons of music and art. This dynasty of kings supported artists, singers, and dancers. These performers of art used to live near the Royal Forts in settlements called Shahi Mohallah, or Royal Neighborhoods. In these areas music, singing, dancing, and selling sex went on side by side. The social context of the prostitution was unique. Nobles sent their sons to these women to be groomed for sitting through a get together and appreciating classical music, poetry, good wine, and beautiful women). One such area was established next to the Royal Fort of Lahore. This area in Lahore still is called Heera Mandi — the market of the diamonds or Bazaar-e-Husn — the market of beauty. Over a period of time, the profession of selling sex was passed on by these women to their daughters. In 1978, the military ruler of Pakistan banned the sexual activities in the Bazaar-e-Husn. As a result, most of the women relocated themselves to the residential areas of Lahore. Currently, women selling sex work in at least five settings or contexts in Lahore.
However, there are more types of sex for sale in Pakistan.
Among women, there are five types of sex workers.
1. Home Based. Here married women sell sex in their own home once their household members leave for work and schools. They seek clients or clients approach them through mobile phones. This accounts for 50% of all female related sex work;
2. Kothikhana is a colloquial term meaning grand house where a madam hires women to sell sex for 6 days a week, 9 to 5 every day, weekends are off, national holidays are included. This typology accounts for 21% of all female related sex work.
3. Street Based. Here the females are picked up from the streets randomly after working hours or at fixed point following an agreement over cell phones. This accounts for about 23% of all female related sex work.
4. Brothel Based. These are fixed locations known to all, here the sex work is bought for less than a penny as well. Against all beliefs, this accounts for less than 2% of all female related sex work in Pakistan.
5. Call Girls. These are most highly paid, most educated girls whose sex services are bought over a contract for a duration ranging between six months to a year.
Among the Men we have two major types. The Hijras and the Men who have sex with Men (MSM)
Hijras have their own hierarchical structure, starting from a chela to a guru leading to the senior most position of the lakardad guru. The Hijras have their own language called the Farsi. This is the not the farsi that is spoken in Iran.
1. Transvestites also known as Moorats in their own language. These are biologically males, even marry females, and have children. They also marry a man who is known as their Girya. They dress up in female attire and engage for sex work after participating in marriage or other functions as dancers. I would like to share with you that when I was doing my research on Hijras, one fine day I had three hijras fully made up sitting in my car. And then among all the people in the world, my inlaws saw me. It took me one year to get a reentry permission to my inlaws home but still I feel that there is a glitch in their minds.
2. Transsexuals also known as Meharban. These were born as males but either got themselves voluntarily castrated or were forcefully castrated. They then take up hormonal therapy and dress up in female attire.
3. Hermaphrodites also known as Faqir. These were borne with sexual anomalies. These are treated with the greatest respect. These are very rare in the market.
Among the men who have sex with men, there are four different typologies. But, before that how do we know who is a male who is selling sex, as it is taboo with which no one wants to be labelled with. The question was asked, and the answer was simple, “We know through our eye contact who is who.”
1. Chawas. These are boys who work as helpers on trucks or busses on long route and the driver has sex with them as and when convenient.
2. Malshia. These are men who come to the market for massage purposes with bottles of oil. Men engage with them for three purposes. One for massage, two for having sex with them and three, get a link to either a female or male sex worker or a Hijra.
3. Male Sex Workers. These are males who sell sex for money.
4. Gays. These are males who have sex with their male friends.
So where do we go from here. Whom do we hold responsible? The seller or the buyer of sex? Why sell sex and why buy it… More to come