pakistani women
TRANSCRIPT
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Women Brigade
Agreed that the world has been
harsh and has taken time to
notice Pakistans feminine
influence. But this time, with
power or without it,
with support or lack
of it, Pakistani
women are
adamant to
get their
rights
Pakistans
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BySrividya Menon
Its a tale of two contrasting destinies. Like sisters, they exist
beneath an old patriarchal roof. Both were born amidst
strict cultural ideologies and brought up through national
unrest, only to live under constant international scrutiny. One
however, through time, has succumbed to the life limited to her
dark veil while the other is educated, independent and fighting
for her unfortunate sibling.
Statistics and numbers have never been an ally to womens
rights activists in Pakistan. Like those hushed tales in India, the
condition of women from the lower income groups in Pakistan
is gaining prominence in a not-so-flattering manner. A tricky
mixture of religious mentality and cultural practices tweaked tosuit male mood swings has backfired on their international
image. But, as the nature of societies go, change is evident, and
slowly, Pakistani women are now scratching the surface of a
probable cultural revolution. However, lurking behind the
shadows of their glamour is another world. At the risk of
sounding similar to the situation in India, women in Pakistan
are flirting with a dual image.
At the popular end of the image conflict are the privileged,
the pampered and the educated lot that splurges on cars and
holidays across the world. As a contrast stand women housed
inside ordinary thatched roofs whose opinions outside the
kitchen are insignificant. Its their woes of violence and abuse
that circulatekidnap, domestic abuse, sexual harassment,
honour killings and many more. Naturally, the Human Rights
Board of Pakistan has found itself on the wrong side of the
ranking charts. The Womens Parliamentary Caucus for example
in its manual mentions the Aurat Foundation which cites 7733cases of women atrocities reported in the print media in 2009.
It is a depressing number and the reasons may vary. But
eventually, women groups have set the ball rolling. Perhaps
being passively aggressive does not always work. Therefore,
women are now coming out of their comfort roles and picking
Nilofar Bakhtiar
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up their weapons of choice, be it the pen, the camera or just
their name, to ensure justice.
Fatimah Shah, the communications head of an NGO,
prefers to term Nilofar Bakhtiar as one of the coolest we have.
Nilofar has for years been a prominent figure trying to bring
about a change from within the system. She was instrumental in
the 2003 legislation on honour killing in Pakistan that brought
about a slight ray of hope to improve gender justice in the
country. But, setting this apart is Nilofars first hand experience
with the radicals. Back in 2007, Pakistans Federal Tourism
Minister, Nilofar, para-jumped to France for a charity campaign.
Instead of applause, she was welcomed back home with a
fatwaon her head, thanks to the pictures of Nilofar with her
60-something-year-old instructor splashed in the media.
Disappointed with the reception, she offered to resign as the
Tourism Minister which was instantly rejected by the then PM,
Shaukhat Aziz. She eventually did step down from the post and
now serves as a senator. Nevertheless, her experience in politics
of over a quarter of a decade is commendable as she says, I
speak and live what I believe in. As a politician, this may not bepractical, but this is what I am. My resignation as a Federal
Minister bears testimony to my philosophy in life inspired by
my parents who taught me to be truthful and honest.
Born to a social worker and an ex-colonel, the worlds of
power and the life of the weak are familiar to her. Having lived
in both worlds, Nilofar however is optimistic about the future.
The presence of women in all spheres of life in Pakistan and
their participation ratio is encouraging. She acknowledges the
media who are now highlighting the role of the performance of
women in the agricultural economy and their massive
contribution to food production.
Her opinion however changes when the international
press is concerned. She says, The international image on
gender in Pakistan is often biased. Agreed that there are serious
issues regarding gender justice, but they are related to womens
low status and culture, both being a global reality. Nilofar isencouraged by the increased number of women in her
profession. Since her entry into politics, the partys woman
power has seen a positive high. She says, As a party leader, I
struggled hard to make women visible, not only at the grassroot,
but at the policy level too. It was a long struggle but by the
grace of Allah, we have a strong female presence which upholds
human rights and human dignity as a hallmark of politics.
My resignation as a FederalMinister bears testimony tomy philosophy in life inspiredby my parents who taught meto be truthful and honest.
Nilofar Bakhtiar
Nilofar Bakhtiar being felicitated...
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from the other village. The police promptly arrested him while
thejirga(community council) decided to get him married to the
girl to avoid any dishonour to the Mastois. But, they wanted
more. The Mastois demanded to settle scores by Qisa
(retribution),in other words, an eye for an eye. Mukhtar wascalled forth and in front of the jirga, forcibly dragged into a
small stable and gang raped by six men for almost an hour. She
was finally pushed out of the stable wearing a tattered kameez.
Not done yet, Mukhtar was paraded naked in the village as a
symbol of their crude vengeance. In normal situations, this
would have a routine ending. The victim usually takes her own
life while the family is boycotted by the village. But this time,
someone somewhere decided to break the rules.
Mukhtar and her family decided to press charges, a very
bold move, considering the damage her family had already
borne. As the press picked up the story, her rapists were
convicted and the story attracted international headlines. Thanksto the exposure, Mukhtar gained recognition around the world
where she now lectures, attends conferences and makes
speeches for womens welfare and education. The compensation
money that she eventually received went towards building
schools for girls in her village.
Speaking to Societyabout her journey, Mukhtar admits the
massive shift in her life post 2002. Being a recluse once, today
she is single mindedly helping victims like herself in Pakistan
with her organisation, media appearances, international visits
and constant pressure on the authorities. In a singular tone, shesays, I lived in a village with no TV, newspapers or education
of any kind. My whole world literally changed after 2002 with
the amount of recognition and courage that I received globally.
From her country to the ones beyond the sea, Mukhtars tale
has impressed many. She received the Fatima Jinnah medal by
the Pakistani Government for her bravery and courage. Glamour
magazine announced Mukhtar as the Woman of the Year 2005.
Nilofar has seen her dream bearing fruit in her bureaucratic
world, but displaying a grimmer face of Pakistan is someone
who was a threat to the countrys international image. She was
once prevented by the Musharraf government to travel, was put
under house arrest and had her passport confiscated. It is toughto put Mukhtar Mai in one category. She was once a demure
village girl, once a victim of a clan conflict, who once
contemplated suicide, only to turn into a fighter, a threat, an
activist and the president of the Mukhtar Mai Womens
Organisation. Today, she is busy campaigning education and
womens rights in Pakistan. Her story halfway is sadly shared by
countless other women. But, to be what Mukhtar is today, took
much more than just raw courage.
Born in the village of Meerawala in the Muzaffargarh
district of Pakistan, Mukhtar was like any other girl around
veiled, illiterate and happily ignorant about life outside her
small village. But, on 22nd June 2002, her quiet family life wasrudely shaken by an allegation from the nearby Mastoi clan.
Her brother was accused of having illicit relations with a girl
I lived in a village with no TV,newspapers or education ofany kind. My world changedafter 2002 with the amount ofrecognition and courage that I
received globally.Mukhtar Mai
Mukhtar Mai
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Her book, In The Name of Honour: A Memoiris a best seller and
an honest account of a victim, betrayed by her own people.
But, through all this, the most significant change for Pakistan
was the act passed to curb the power of the Hudood Ordinance.
A highly repressive law set up during President Muhammad Zia-
Ul-Haqs Islamisation process, it enforced punishments on the
lines ofZina(adultery), Qazf(false accusation ofZina), offence
against property and the prohibition of drinking alcohol. One of
the effects of the law was that a rape victim could be convicted
with Zina if she failed to produce proof of the act. The law
requires four pious male witnesses who could advocate her story,
on failure of which, the accusation of rape could be charged as the
admission of guilt of sexual intercourse illicitly or outside marriageby the woman. As impractical as that sounds, the law further
denies a womans testimony as valid because it was not equal to
the other gender, thus repressing her social stand. Though in 2006,
following pressure both from home and international womens
groups, General Musharraf passed the Womens Protection Bill in
the National Assembly amidst protests from radical Islamic groups,
allowing rape to be prosecutable under civil law.
Acknowledging the progress, Mukhtar is hopeful of a
gradual change someday. She says, Some laws in the country
are a hindrance to the growth of women in the society. However,
the media is with us and hopefully, the awareness will increase.
But, the changes will have to be through many levels of policies.This is not limited to Pakistan alone. However, the countrys
orthodox mentality and wide illiteracy make matters worse.
Unfortunately, personal justice continues to evade Mukhtar.
In April this year, her rapists were acquitted by the Supreme
Court upholding the Lahore High Court judgement passed in
2005. As the topic shifts, her otherwise stern tone is now laced
with disappointment. She says, They say they dont have
enough evidence to acquit them. I blame their mentality. I am
afraid that because of this verdict, others may be encouraged to
commit similar crimes.
Along with an orthodox outlook, Mukhtar blames the wide
illiteracy amongst women that is holding them back. Alsopending is the promise of Benazir Bhutto to increase the number
of female police stations who could handle delicate cases
involving women. Aurat ki FIR aurat hi file kare, she says.
Also needed are an increased amount of women in the judiciary
who can counter the allegation of biased judges on the desk. To
sum it up, a small movement that could push the government
to be proactive in their reforms.
Even though her overall plan might sound a bit unrealistic,
she is not giving up. Mukhtar is planning to file a review petition
with the Supreme Court against the judgment in her case. We
wonder if this time she is expecting a favourable review, but pat
comes the reply, Pakistan politics did not support me during
my struggle. And, with the Supreme Court ruling, I am not
expecting anything ground breaking from them either. But, I
have come this far and I am not going to give up soon.
Mukhtars fervour and a renewed attitude have found
admirers across the fields. Director/producer Mehreen Jabbar is
one of them. With a family history of filmmaking, Mehreens
camera captures regular people romancing the extraordinary.
Three friends from diverse fields navigating love in contemporary
Karachi, a woman and her husbands mistress plotting his murder
and a female athlete rebelling against her familys wishes of
marrying someone who is not supportive of her career are someof the snatches of Mehreens prolific filmmaking over the years.
Her narratives talk about stories of realistic women through
Pakistans most effective medium: television and dramas.
With her quality of work and efforts toward womens
issues, Mehreen certainly creates a strong image. However, she
isnt the first one. In Karachi, sitting in a crowded restaurant,
Mehreen talks about women and cinema. She says, In the 70s
Pakistan politics did notsupport me during mystruggle. But, I have comethis far and I am not going togive up soon.
Mukhtar Mai
Mukhtar Mai addressing the media
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80s and the 90s, the stronger directors and writers have been
women. The pioneer of women-centric dramas has been Saira
Kazmi who did a lot of good work around this time. Also,
writers like Haseena Moin wrote a lot about women. So, it hasideally been a tradition that I am carrying forward. I try to show
women of this age and the issues they face in my way.
Times have changed and she is optimistic about it. When
she started out as an intern, Pakistani TV broadcasted two
channels, a phenomenon that has now stretched to 80, thus
increasing its influence and exposure. Since their movie industry
faded during the authoritarian regime of the 1980s, a socially
aware parallel cinema rose and today has found a strong footing
in the society. Having been a member of the Board of Film
Censors in Karachi and the founding member of the Kara Film
Festival, Mehreen has an important role to play on such an
influential platform.
Beyond the reels of her camera, Mehreen was also involved
with the NGO, WAR (War Against Rape) during its initial years.
She volunteered and participated in court hearings, interviews,
meetings and legal counsel for some. Mehreen agrees that
connecting with victims leaves an impact. She says, Working
with them played an important part in my consciousness and
awareness and gave me an opportunity to be involved directly
rather than just telling stories.
The essence of a strong and independent woman makes
regular appearances in her work. Women fight poverty througheducation in Daamwhile in a short film from the series Spenta,
Mary aur Zubeida, wives leave their abusive husbands and a
middle aged women falls in love amidst opposition in the
telefilm Shaam Se Pehle. As she discusses women in her
creations, Mehreen makes it clear that they are all snatches of
the real world. She says, The good news is that we have more
women in the work force now. There are a growing number of
It has ideally been a tradition
that I am carrying forward.I try to show women of thisage and the issues they facein my way.
Mehreen Jabbar
Mehreen Jabbar at work
PHOTOGRAPH:ADEELHUSAIN
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middle class women who can differentiate between the good
and the bad. Many NGOs too have cropped up. Also, most of
the successful drama writers who are women are talking about
important issues relating to women.
Ultimately however, it is the authority which has to make
a difference. Mehreen agrees that laws need to change, but also
underlines that it cannot occur overnight. Even then, laws do
not change attitudes. She adds, A lot of violence against
women goes unreported. Domestically, mostly, the male
aggression is aimed directly towards the woman. But, I think
the government too has its hands full with other issues so its
commitment to emancipation of women is still in theory. Its
time for something to be done.
Meanwhile, Fatimah interestingly observes there are no
laws restricting womens education, employment or civicparticipation in Pakistan. There are however pseudo laws
such as cultural norms, practices, traditions and such, that
tend to favour men. Looking at the good number of women
parliamentarians, the government is expected to be more
attentive towards their needs. Historically, Pakistan has always
secretly admired its heroines. Right from the popular Fatima
Jinnah to her namesake and modern activist, Fatimah Bhutto,
womens welfare has been a hot issue to campaign for. Her
aunt, Benazir Bhutto, created history when she became the
first woman ever to head an Islamic state followed by this
years election of the first female speaker of the house,
Fahmida Mirza. And, lets not forget their latest and most good
looking foreign minister yet, Hina Rabbani Khar whose arrival
in India received more coverage than the Obamas. Meanwhile,
outside the parliament, Pakistans womens cricket team,
which was once threatened, is now applauded and favoured.
South Asias fastest female runner Naseem Hameed too is
their own.
Through all this, Pakistan which has received flak for its
way of handling affairs is, by the looks of it, now on the right
track, thanks to the women mentioned above. Deep social
acceptance will take time but till then, lets encourage the onesthat have challenged the contemporary. With the wind changing
directions, seems like the worst has passed and by the laws of
the society, it can only get better from here. Apologies on
sounding too optimistic, but historically, nobody can stop a
woman with a mission. This article has mentioned three
achievers from Pakistan, and by the way its going, its certain
that the future will have no problems noticing the rest.