Sunday, February 20, 2022
Editorial: #Pakistan - Noorul Haq Qadri's assertion is a dangerous one in a country already dangerous for women - Hostility to Aurat March
#Pakistan - Misogyny unites #PTI, #JUI-F
The PTI government and the opposition JUI-F may be at daggers drawn but mention women’s right to public protest and, in a rare display of unity, though one reeking of deep-seated misogyny and patriarchy, they vehemently oppose it.
As Aurat March approaches, to coincide with the UN’s International Women’s Day, the federal religious affairs minister and a leading light of the JUI-F have both termed it ‘un-Islamic’. They also cite, ‘our culture, tradition’ to justify their opposition to it.
Their argument would have weight if backed by logic, knowledge or even plain common sense but their driver appears to preconceived, archaic notions about a woman’s place in society and outright misogyny. Women demand equality as a right; not as a favor.
Obscurantist mullahs, long patronised by the state both as a foreign policy tool and a facilitator of their unending political-social engineering projects, gain strength with every passing moment and dictate the agenda. And all of us, the state often included, watch in abject helplessness.
What kind of inexplicable madness drives such men? Killing someone, his own sister, because she’d been wronged by four men.
Well, many women among us are done watching and suffering in silence. And why shouldn’t they be? They are enraged and impatient, having seen and lived with the reality around them for longer than they’d like to remember. A reality no man can experience with the same intensity as a woman.
This reality has existed for centuries. And while many men support women in spirit, only a few are willing to stand shoulder to shoulder with them as they ask for their legitimate rights. On the other hand, those smug about the status quo, often citing faith, are aggressive and obnoxious and endanger protesting women’s rights activists.
Anyone questioning the legitimacy of the women’s rights movement need not embark on a deep study of history or sociology but merely look at a few recent incidents to understand why the status quo is unacceptable, as it is patently unjust.
These incidents are just a tiny window into one element of a woman’s existence in our society: constantly living with violence or the threat of violence. Yes, and this one factor alone cuts across all socioeconomic tiers and is not restricted to the deprived sections of society.
Verbal, physical and psychological abuse in the vast majority of cases flows in one direction. That is from man to woman. Qandeel Baloch was murdered for creating a persona on social media that challenged the honour of her brother who killed her.
His honour or ghairat was not challenged when his sister was providing for the ageing parents because he couldn’t. His ghairat did not spur him into making a living and supporting the parents; only his sister’s independence and what she chose for herself provoked him.
Look at the brother whose sister was subjected to the most heinous of crimes against a woman: gang rape. The brother thought nothing of taking a gun and killing his sister. A gang-rape victim, survivor. He was arrested soon after and regretted that that was before he’d killed the rapists.
What kind of complete, inexplicable madness drives such men? Killing someone, his own sister in this case, because she’d been wronged by four men. Tell me if change is not urgently warranted; if society does not need to wake up and tell these representatives of the ‘ghairat brigade’ there can be no bigger shame than their own actions have brought them.
Because of the indomitable courage of Mukhtara Mai, the crime against her became public knowledge and inspired a large number of women to stand up for their rights. But what did the biggest proponent of ‘enlightened moderation’ in the country, who happened to be a man, say about her? It disgusts me so much I won’t repeat it.
This past week another such incident has come to the fore. Two young women, could well have been underage girls, were kidnapped, raped and stripped before being paraded in their village. Their crime: a man from their tribe and a woman from their tormentors’ tribe, eloped and got married of their own choice.
This ‘retribution’ visited these young women because a man from their own tribe and a woman from their rival tribe had the audacity to fall in love and get married. Yes, if the religious affairs minister and the JUI-F’s leading light who has sought his party’s permission to ‘attack’ Aurat March are to be believed this is our faith, culture and tradition.
They say nothing of the dozens of recorded incidents in religious seminaries, even mosques, where minors, girls but mostly boys, who have not even reached double digits in age, have been sexually abused, molested, raped. Whose faith, culture, tradition sanctioned that criminal conduct?Violence or fear of violence remains a major issue as it endangers a woman’s person but where women’s rights are concerned it is but the tip of the iceberg. Gender equality in the workplace remains a dream; sexual harassment by male colleagues or even co-travellers in public transport is commonplace.We men would turn murderous if we faced a fraction of what women are subjected to during the course of their everyday life, just walking in the street or shopping or whatever else. Countless women in the family, circle of friends have talked of being groped in public.
A deeper issue is unpaid labour. From caring for the family to cooking, raising children, cleaning, doing laundry and endless domestic chores to helping men in the fields and their businesses, women’s labour is rarely quantified and remunerated. Instead, the slightest of ‘shortcomings’ in these multiple roles incurs the wrath of man.
Oh yes. I do support Aurat March. With all my heart. Have huge respect, admiration for women who take to the streets in an extremely volatile and hostile environment as they have the courage to stand up and be counted for what is right. Wish I was so fearless. As for their PTI, JUI-F detractors the less said the better.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1676081/misogyny-unites-pti-jui-f
#Pakistan: Militant attacks in #Balochistan put pressure on #China's infrastructure plans
https://www.dw.com/en/pakistan-militant-attacks-in-balochistan-put-pressure-on-chinas-infrastructure-plans/a-60796264
Pak releases dozens of TTP prisoners as peace talks continue with banned outfit
Pakistan released 46 Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) prisoners with an aim of a permanent ceasefire and peace agreement with the banned group.
Journalist at Radio Free Europe, Daud Khattak, in his tweet said that the release of the 46 TTP prisoners came as a result of the efforts of the tribal Jirga that first met the Taliban leadership in Paktika province on January 9-10 and then again in Khost province of Afghanistan on February 17-18.
He further, in his tweet, said that the Haqqani Network leader and Taliban Interior Minister Siraj Haqqani played important role in breaking the ice.
“TTP confirmed the release of their 46 prisoners, but say they want release of 102 men, which also include leaders of Swat Taliban & only then will think of ceasefire,” he wrote.The journalist informed that the Pakistani authorities have not commented so far, but sources say more TTP prisoners will be free in the next 3-4 days, including some key members of the Swat Taliban or men like Latif Mehsud.
“TTP is so far watching and had slowed down its attacks in Pakistan,” said Khattak.
A U.N. Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team report say that between 3,000 and 5,000 fighters of the TTP are still active in Afghanistan.
Moreover, Pakistan’s recently released National Security Policy has failed in its mandate to tackle non-traditional security threats. It fails to address the core issue of how Islamabad will eradicate extremism and radicalization, reported the magazine.
Islamabad-based security expert Muhammad Wali says that the Afghan economy is on the verge of collapse, and the country is still believed to be a haven for different terrorist outfits. He said that all these developments in Afghanistan should be a reason of concern for Pakistan as well. (ANI)
https://theprint.in/world/pak-releases-dozens-of-ttp-prisoners-as-peace-talks-continue-with-banned-outfit/840106/
#Pakistan #PPP - Senator Mian Raza Rabbani condemns the amendments to the electronic crimes law and the Election Act
PRESS RELEASE
Mian Raza Rabbani, Former Chairman Senate, has issued the following press statement:
The amendments to the electronic crimes law and the Election Act, ECP’s code of conduct through Ordinances, amounts to denying a national debate and depriving Parliament of its constitutional right of legislation.
Since 2018, the Government has taken systematic steps to apply censor to online content through the “Citizens Protection (Against Online Harm) Rules, 2020” and the “Removal and Blocking of Unlawful Online Content (Procedure, Oversight, and Safeguards) Rules, 2020”. Such Rules were opposed by journalists and digital rights groups. The proposed legislation converts bailable offenses to non-bailable offenses. The punishment for defaming a person or an institution on social media from two years is being increased to five years. This is condemned. This is placing fetters on the Fundamental Rights of the citizens and can not be done without a national debate, that is through legislation in Parliament.
The President should not sign the Ordinances, as under Article 50, Constitution, 1973, he is a part of Parliament, here Parliament is being denied the right to legislate and fundamental rights are being curtailed outside of Parliament.
The amendments to the Election Act and Rules will allow government patronage to be used for the ruling party’s candidates, it is opposed and condemned. This government runs on vital Cabinet decisions being taken by the circulation of Summaries and legislation being done through Ordinances. Since it came to power legislation has only been done through Ordinances.
MIAN RAZA RABBANI.
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