08-March-2007

Editorial

International Women's Day is celebrated every year on 8th March. We at Financial Post have every year tried to bring forth and put together articles highlighting women's issues and problems. This year it is only appropriate that since our recently launched Women Achiever's Page has acknowledged so many wonderful dedicated women in this country, women who have contributed to the welfare, protection and upliftment of women in this country. Women who today have not given up, who today are still holding the forte and carrying on with all their splendid contributions to various segments of society. These are women who have taken upon themselves the tremendous task of raising their voice and condemning any and every act of violence and abuse, victimization and harrasment of the girl-child, the wives, the mothers, the daughters and sisters of this nation. We are proud of all our women folk in Pakistan who speak up against injustice, bias and prejudice.
Today, we managed to get message from some of our women achievers, and we must thank Susan Gilbert who has been a high school teacher most of her life and is the wife of Marcus Gilbert, the helpful, and committed Director of British Council Karachi.
We salute the women of Pakistan and pray that may you all have the courage to speak up for upholding the truth at all times.
Qudsia Kadri

Messages

"Women's rights groups have been demanding a total repeal of the Hudood Ordinance and that demand stands. However, the amendments are an improvement to the extent that rape has been brought under the Pakistan Penal Code. In Pakistan, enforcement remains a problem with all laws.
No one can create a hurdle if political will and administrative support exist at the ground level. For example, a law against honour killings has been passed but women continue to be victims of Karo-Kari. Similarly, Vani has been declared illegal by the Supreme Court, yet the practice continues."
Zohra Yusuf

 

"Today, on International Women's Day, I will be thinking especially of all the wonderful women whom I have had the privilege to meet and come to know, in the many different countries where I have lived and worked over the last thirty years.
I will remember my young female students in Riyadh, succeeding in the fields of science and business in the face of all the restrictions placed upon them; I will remember the three elderly blind ladies I used to visit regularly in Sri Lanka, who lived such happy and independent lives together despite their shared disability, and always welcomed my visits so warmly, and Gertie, who introduced them to me; I will remember the doctors and midwives who brought my children into the world with such care; and the teachers who have taught them with such dedication and I will remember my own female teaching colleagues throughout the world, always so supportive.
I will remember the friends who have helped me enjoy all the countries where I have had to make new homes and the wonderful women who have worked in my homes, helping to look after my family in order to support their own families, and I will not forget to remember all the wonderful women, my Pakistani baji's, who have made my time here in Karachi so enjoyable and rewarding. I thank them all, and hope that they will be thinking of me.
And I will be thinking of the many women I do not know who have lost sons and husbands in the on-going conflicts throughout the world."
Susan Gilbert-Teacher

 

"Ambivalent feelings mark Women's Day this year. While on the one hand there is increased awareness about the rights of women, on the other, there is a blatant disregard of those rights by the government and its functionaries.While on the one hand we have a remarkable Constitution which guarantees protection to women and encourages them to participate in all spheres of life, on the other are the 'responsible' officials who redicule the Constitution and trample upon its principles. This Women's Day, when we celebrate the strength of the women of Pakistan and salute their indomitable spirit, we cannot forget those affected by the rampant lawlessness prevalent today. Naseema, Zil-e-Huma and countless others demand that we stand up and fight for justice, and this Women's Day let us all pledge to do just that."
Shazia Marri

 

"It gives me great pleasure to share my thoughts with the learned subscribers of the Financial Post on this special occasion of Women's Day 2007. Women are creators,nurturers,mothers,daughters, sisters,wife, daughters-in-law,providers,highly professional members of the society and have many more virtues which will require alot more space than can be allocated to me in this edition.Women in their protective roll can be extremely diplomatic to diabolical.They are strong emotionally and yet weak physically.They keep the balance of family unity and honour. Our creator has completed the most unique, finely tuned, automatic,self sustaining computerized human form-The Woman.Let us celebrate our presence in a manner that all of the human race learns to respect and honour the woman as part of the world order that cannot survive without.The women must educate themselves and increase their useful knowledge so that they can claim their right to a life as a dignified member of the society. A right she is born with!"
Shaista Effendi-Rais

 

"UN International Women's Day is a good day for reflection on the importance of gender-sensitivity in the successful development of a family and a nation. This year's theme of "Ending Impunity for Violence against Women and girls," makes it even more pertinent for us, as it is a reflection of the message of Islam that was conveyed to us by its unequivocal prohibition of female infanticide and its unequivocal injunctions making women legally competent with men to own, buy, sell and inherit property. These directions being the first of a series of other gender-sensitive Quranic injunctions aimed at demolishing the unnatural inferior status of womanhood that had been imposed for centuries, was welcomed by women of that time. It held a message of emancipation that was deliberately obscured in the mists of time by vested interests.
Despite the two and half decades of uproar over the fault-ridden man-made Hudood legislation in 1980 that, contrary to Quranic injunctions, subjects women to the penalty of death on the mere words of four men, no political government showed mettle enough to confront this injustice which was steadily tarnishing the fair name of Islam. It is fortunate that the recognition of this un-Islamic hybrid is now beginning to be nationally addressed. The passing of the gender-sensitive legislation of the Criminal Law (Women's Protection) Act, 2006, in November last year, under the bold direction and leadership of the President of Pakistan, General Pervez Musharraff, is a welcome step forward, and augurs well for the future steps to come."
Barrister Shahida Jamil
[Former Federal Minister for Law, Justice & Human Rights]

 

"Please feel free to edit the following: Many centuries ago Buddha wrote "No path leads to happiness, the path itself is happiness." In order for us to embrace our life and live it to the fullest each one of us has to derive satisfaction from our daily routine. It may be going to work or dropping the children to school or looking after an aged relative. It is in our capacity to find happiness along the way. And to achieve this elusive 'happiness' each one of us must look within ourselves and have the right attitude. For me attitude in more important than the past, than circumstances, than education, than failures, than successes, than what other people think. The beauty of it is that every day we have a choice in the attitude we adopt. Ladies, lets choose the right attitude and find the positive in every situation so that we can enjoy the ride!"
Nilofer Saeed

 

"Women of sharply demarcated classes move only within their own spheres, towards a destiny which has nothing in common with the other; where there is no meeting except across the fence; where the poor woman serves the rich, the rich serves her own interest, and the middle class does neither. The privileged Pakistani woman's is the class that can most effectively contribute to emancipation of society by breaking class barriers. Since she is not inhibited by constraints of understanding, education and resources, she alone can raise the status of the underprivileged woman. Instead of frittering away her wealth on trivia, let her open her heart and mind to the other.
To sit back and condemn society does not exonerate oneself from responsibility to society. To accept the status quo is to surrender to defeat. If a brighter future is to be hoped for out of our dismal present, each one of us must make an effort to bring light into the dark lives of the unfortunates. For only when the cry of the woman is heard and solaced will there be song and laughter in this land."
Dr. Naseem Salahuddin

 

"Eight March is celebrated throughout the world as 'International Women's Day'. This day symbolically reiterates the contribution of women in shaping the world. It is an undeniable truth that women play a vital role in the development, peace and harmony. Unfortunately in many countries there is no recognition of their work and hence they are treated as chattel. This day also reminds us that the violence is rampant against women in every Strata of the society. In developed countries there are legal remedies and state offers protection and justice. But in countries like Pakistan women still have to fight for their basic right to life, to choose a life partner, to work in short to live a life of their own as a person. We are just a century behind and have to struggle hard to change a typical feudal mindset which always hinders the path to freedom and progress."
Anis Haroon--Aurat Foundation

 

"On the occasion of the International Women Day being observed today I wish to congratulate the women of the world in general and of Pakistan in particular. "As the first woman ever elected to head an Islamic nation, I feel a special responsibility regarding issues that relate to women. "The Pakistan Peoples Party considers promotion of women's rights as a religious, moral and political obligation. "Women the world over have been subjected to varying degrees of discrimination, exploitation and violence. This situation must change; it will. "The discrimination against and backwardness of women has nothing to do either with the religion or cultural values. It is simply the result of prejudice. "In the West, the women's liberation movement began in the 20th century. But in the Islamic world, the women's rights movement is as old as Islam itself although, unfortunately, one would not know this when looking at the degeneration of values over the years. "On this day let us all resolve to fight against these prejudices against women. "I am confident that we will win the fight. The celebrations today mark a realization that women everywhere are waking up. "The fact that four Muslim countries (Pakistan, Bangla Desh, Turkey and Indonesia) have had female heads of government gives assurance that the problems of women in Islamic societies can be seriously addressed. "Let me on this day also recall that as Prime Minister my government was able to set a trend in gender equality and protection of women from violence. That trend is now irreversible. "We identified laws discriminatory to women adopted by male prejudice and began to review them. We also undertook a comprehensive social action programme largely for the benefit of women in the rural areas. "Had the PPP continued in Government, there would have been women in the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Unfortunately, the senior most woman judge that should have been taken into the Supreme Court was not which in our view was a clear sign of gender discrimination under the present regime. "Despite obstacles we were able to make great achievements such as: 1. After twenty years CEDAW (UN's Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women) was signed in August 1995, ratified in March 1996 and accepted by the Legal Affairs Office of the United Nations, in April 1996. 2. A Commission of Inquiry for Women, headed by a Supreme Court judge was constituted to recommend the removal of disparities and discrimination in the existing laws against women the report of which has since been made public. 3. 5 to 10 % quota in the public and private sectors was reserved for women and family courts were set up. 4. Two bills were placed on the floor of the House for the restoration of women seats in the National and Provincial Assemblies but the outcome was not positive because the Party lacked two-thirds majority. 5. Lifted the ban on Pakistani women taking part in International Sporting events and established a separate Women Sports Board. 6. The First Women Bank was set up for women to extend credit facilities and loans exclusively to women. 7. Women Police Stations were set up and more women were brought in the law enforcing agencies. 8. A Human Rights Division was set up to focus on the violation of Human Rights primarily of women and to redress their grievances. 9. When our stand on the Hudood Ordinances 1979, which were patently discriminatory against women forced the present regime to adopt the Women Protection Bill recently the PPP supported the Bill despite being in the opposition. We supported this half measure for the sake of women as the first critical step towards complete repeal of the Hudood Ordinances. "The increase in rape incidents in the last few years is outrageous. On this day the PPP reiterates and wishes to send a powerful message that crimes against women would not be tolerated. "On this day also I appeal to all the political parties to join hands beyond partisan politics to extricate women from the agony and shame of discriminatory laws. "By mobilising the collective power of women, we can make our world more tolerant, harmonious and secure. We share a common destiny. Let us work for it together".
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto's
[Former Prime Minister and Chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples party]

 

 

It is a good time to be a woman in Pakistan today.

Government and civil societies are wary as a new wave surges forward to fight orthodox views, repressive attitudes, norms and practices. Prejudices come under fire and women demand an elevation of status.
It is a time when the urban voice of the privileged crusader is being heard across the country and activists are knocking on the doors of policy chambers.
It is a time when the underprivileged, suppressed woman has found the courage to stand up and speak to question and to demand her rightful position in society.
Women of Pakistan are rejecting the half measures and lip services of yesterday by governments. Today she is demanding the repeal of the Hudood Ordinance or change of laws regarding her status.
She is speaking on forums and facing international media to dispel the notion that she is weak.
She is standing up and challenging the dominance of the male. She is proving that a matriarchal society is the need of the day - where men have failed she has the confidence to address and confront any issue that needs redress.
Be it Aids, drugs or civic issues - she can overcome objstacles and demand reform - for she has been created to build relationships, nurture the infant and care for the aged.
She is an asset and she is the 51% energy vitually needed.
Let there be many more days to celebrate her, all year round.