Daughters of Stones |A film by Mustafa Buzdar

Comments · 511

• ZE

  @zedianerkatwishi3930 · 1 hour ago

  Zambian's gather here and appreciate what beautiful land we have!!! Aikona ukusumina abantu baso uku mipanga baka boi. Bafwifile ebalemibombela nga baisai muchalo mumwenu. Noti ati niba bwana naba 'doner olo ba boss' tefintu!

• QU

  @Qudsialatif · 1 month ago

  This is not merely a film; it is a painful portrait of the silent lives of women whose labour has been normalized as a “duty” and whose silence has too often been disguised as “culture.” What makes this film particularly disturbing is the way women are shown carrying not only the burdens traditionally associated with domestic life, but also physically demanding work that is often considered “men’s work”—yet, despite carrying these responsibilities, they may still be denied something as fundamental as the right to question, to express an opinion, to participate in decisions concerning their own lives, and to determine the direction of their own future.<br>This forces us to confront a deeply uncomfortable question: If a woman spends her entire life caring for a household, raising children, serving her family, working in fields, performing manual labour, and sacrificing her time, health and youth for the survival of those around her, then where is her own life? Where is her education? Where are her aspirations? Where is her voice? And, above all, when will she be recognized not merely for what she can do for others, but for her inherent dignity and worth as a human being?<br>Perhaps one of the most disturbing forms of inequality is the unequal distribution of opportunity. In some communities, a son’s education is treated as an investment in the family’s future. He is encouraged to leave the village, move to a city, attend college or university, and build an independent life. Meanwhile, the very women and girls left behind may carry the domestic, agricultural and caregiving responsibilities that make his education possible.<br>And then, years later, society may look at that same girl and ask why she did not progress.<br>But the more important question is:<br>Was she ever given the opportunity to progress?<br>You cannot deny someone education, freedom, economic opportunity and a voice, and then blame that person for not achieving what she was never allowed to pursue.<br>This is why we must be extremely careful when we use the word “culture.” Culture should preserve a community’s language, identity, traditions, values and collective heritage. It should not become a shield behind which injustice is protected from criticism. A practice does not become morally justified merely because it is old, familiar or inherited from previous generations. Tradition is not the same thing as truth, and longevity is not proof of righteousness.<br>If a tradition systematically deprives women of education, dignity, economic agency, freedom of choice, participation in family decisions or the right to express legitimate concerns, then it deserves critical examination—not automatic obedience.<br>And this criticism should not be presented as an attack on tribal identity or on culture itself. There is nothing inherently wrong with preserving a rich cultural identity. The problem begins when certain customs are treated as unquestionable simply because they have existed for generations, even when they produce unequal and degrading outcomes for half of the community.<br>Most importantly, Islam should not be invoked to justify injustice. Islamic teachings establish the dignity and moral worth of human beings and place justice at the centre of social conduct. The Qur’an recognizes women’s independent rights to inheritance and property, condemns coercive treatment, and establishes that moral worth is not determined by gender but by righteousness and character. The Qur’an also explicitly recognizes women’s entitlement to what they earn and men’s entitlement to what they earn (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdDUZHEdL6s&amp;t=272">4:32</a>), and grants women a defined share of inheritance (4:7).<br>Therefore, when a cultural practice silences a woman simply because she is a woman, denies her legitimate rights, or treats her as nothing more than unpaid labour, it cannot automatically be labelled Islamic merely because it exists within a Muslim society.<br>There is an important difference between Islamic principles and cultural practices carried out in the name of Islam. We should have the courage to distinguish between the two.<br>Women’s empowerment should not be understood as a war against men. It does not mean replacing male domination with female domination. It means creating a society in which women have meaningful access to education, safety, economic opportunity, property, dignity, participation and a voice in decisions that affect their lives.<br>And men must be part of this transformation.<br>A brother should be able to recognize the labour his sister performs behind the scenes while he receives the opportunity to study. A husband should understand that a wife is not born to serve him without recognition or respect. A father should see his daughter’s education not as a secondary expense, but as an investment in a human being with her own potential. And sons should be taught that household responsibilities are not inherently “female work,” just as physical labour is not automatically “male work.”<br>The uncomfortable reality is that many societies have historically benefited from women’s unpaid labour while simultaneously limiting their access to power, education and economic independence. That contradiction deserves to be confronted honestly.<br>We cannot celebrate a man’s success while remaining blind to the women whose invisible labour made that success easier.<br>We cannot tell girls to sacrifice everything for their families and then criticize them for having no independent future.<br>We cannot demand women’s obedience while denying them a voice.<br>And we cannot call something “culture” simply to make criticism of it socially unacceptable.<br>A culture should be strong enough to examine itself.<br>A tradition should be strong enough to survive legitimate criticism.<br>A society should be strong enough to educate its daughters.<br>And a man should be secure enough to respect an educated and empowered woman rather than fear her.<br>The goal should not be to destroy culture. The goal should be to separate the beauty of culture from the injustice that may sometimes hide behind it.<br>Because a tradition does not become just merely because it is centuries old.<br>And a woman’s silence does not mean that she has no pain, no dreams, no opinions or no ambitions.<br>Perhaps the most important question this film leaves us with is not simply “Why are these women living this way?”<br>It is:<br>“Why have generations of society accepted this as normal—and what are we prepared to change so that the next generation of girls does not inherit the same silence?”<br>A daughter deserves more than survival.<br>She deserves education.<br>She deserves dignity.<br>She deserves a voice.<br>She deserves the right to dream.<br>And she deserves the opportunity to build a life that is not defined solely by how much she can sacrifice for everyone else.<br>That is not an attack on culture.<br>That is a demand for justice.

  19

• MU

  @MuhammadMadaniBaloch · 1 month ago (edited)

  I wish this could nominate for Oscar ❤ OMG the girl and her expressions and dialogue delivery &nbsp;just amazing ❤❤❤

  52

• MA

  @MaleehaSaeed-l4x · 2 weeks ago

  I am from Balochistan, and this video is a visual representation of our village. It looks exactly like my village.<br><br>The girls there are often taught only one thing: household work. There is little or no access to education, schools, or even Islamic educational institutes. Many of them grow up believing that they were born only to take care of the house, get married at a young age, have children, and spend their lives in difficult circumstances.<br><br>I truly want to help those girls, but sometimes I feel like there is nothing I can do on my own. I sincerely wish that someone would come forward to help them, so that these girls can receive education, opportunities, and a chance to build a better future.

  3

• TA

  @tariqmarri5782 · 1 month ago

  Loud message silently conveyed 🥺💔

  18

• PE

  @Peacepractitioner · 2 weeks ago

  Reminds me of little me. These children work so hard. ❤

  9

• NO

  @Northandnature · 1 month ago

  this vedio randomly appeared on my feed. wow what a thought, cinematography, acting and direction. All superb. Indeed there is need of social, economic reforms. love from kpk chitral😍

  20

• AT

  @Attiasattarzehri · 1 month ago

  I have no words to explain the pain ,that still our sisters are suffering for education,its not only the dream of one baloch daughter to be litrate its is the dream of hole Balochistan daughter,i wish i could do something things for my sister&apos;s,😔

  4

• IT

  @itx_maman · 1 month ago

  This isn’t just a story, it’s a reality that deserves to be seen. That little girl taking her brother’s takhti just to get a chance to learn honestly broke my heart. As someone from Balochistan, this felt even closer to home. ❤️⛰️📚<br><br>Thank you, Mustafa, for telling this story and showing a reality that many people need to see. Some stories aren’t just watched they’re felt🤍

  2

• GO

  @Goranjee · 1 month ago

  I am from Punjab and have always tried to talk about the unfair treatment to Baluchistan, KP and other areas!<br>We will succeed if we are fair to all.<br>My love and empathy for Baluchistan.

  5

• BE

  @BeCon-rh1md · 1 month ago

  This is an amazing short story on one of those far away neglected life, still struggling for it&apos;s basic needs. You have an eye for Art of conveying message. Keep it it up, the Change will come.❤

  9

• AL

  @AliNawaz-h6s · 1 month ago

  یہ فلم ایک حقیقت ہے ہم بلوچستان کے لوگوں کے لیے اللّٰہ تعالیٰ ہر بیٹی کا نصیب اچھا کرے آمین <br>اور تمام دیکھنے والوں سے گزارش ہے کہ &nbsp;اپنے بچیوں کی اچھی تربیت کے ساتھ دین و دنیاوی تعلیم بھی ضرور دیں

  7