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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 Women Brigade

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By Srividya Menon

ts 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 to suit 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 7733 cases 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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Nilofar Bakhtiar being felicitated...

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 fatwa on 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 be practical, 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

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. Nilofar Bakhtiar
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 is encouraged 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.

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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 tough to 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 was rudely shaken by an allegation from the nearby Mastoi clan. Her brother was accused of having illicit relations with a girl
Mukhtar Mai

from the other village. The police promptly arrested him while the jirga (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 was called 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. Thanks to the exposure, Mukhtar gained recognition around the world where she now lectures, attends conferences and makes

I lived in a village with no TV, newspapers or education of any kind. My world changed after 2002 with the amount of recognition and courage that I received globally. Mukhtar Mai
speeches for womens welfare and education. The compensation money that she eventually received went towards building schools for girls in her village. Speaking to Society about 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, she says, 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.

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n Mukhtar Mai addressing the media

Pakistan politics did not support me during my struggle. But, I have come this far and I am not going to give up soon. Mukhtar Mai
Her book, In The Name of Honour: A Memoir is 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 ZiaUl-Haqs Islamisation process, it enforced punishments on the lines of Zina (adultery), Qazf (false accusation of Zina), 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 marriage by 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. Also pending 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 some of 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

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It has ideally been a tradition that I am carrying forward. I try to show women of this age and the issues they face in my way. Mehreen Jabbar
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 has ideally 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 through education in Daam while 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

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PHOTOGRAPH: ADEEL HUSAIN

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Fatimah interestingly observes there are no laws restricting womens education, employment or civic participation in Pakistan but pseudo laws that tend to favour men.

PHOTOGRAPH: MADIHA AIJAZ

Mehreen Jabbar

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 civic participation 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 ones that 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. <<

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