Majida Rizvi: woman of substance
October 29, 2007
Karachi
When one thinks of the discriminatory Hudood Laws in the country’s constitution and the one person who dared to challenge the ordinance as against Islam, Justice (retd) Majida Rizvi’s name comes to mind. She is not only credited as the first woman judge of Pakistan in the Sindh High Court but is a distinguished social activist who has not stopped campaigning for women’s rights even after retirement.
Her career in law spans over 40 years and she has practiced in high courts and the Supreme Court. Apart from serving as a lawyer and judge, Justice Rizvi remained the chairperson of the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) for three years. During her tenure, a report that challenged the ambiguities in the Hudood Laws was also released in 2003 that received massive acknowledgement by the civil society since she was the first woman to break the myth that Hudood Laws were “Islamic”.
However, Rizvi’s journey to recognition has not been easy, she says. “I faced resistance from my parents and brother from the very first day I decided I wanted to study law,” she recalls. Having majored in Political Science and International Relations from the University of Karachi (KU) in the late 50s, Rizvi aspired to be a politician but she knew at once that women in Pakistan had a long way to go before they could make their mark in politics, so a career choice in that arena would not be a wise decision.
“I decided to do law instead but it was not easy to convince my parents for that either. I had to nag them for six months until they gave in,” she proudly adds after which she joined S.M. Law College. Since her classes would be in the evening, Rizvi would teach at a school in the morning so she could be financially independent as well. “I feared my parents could use money as an excuse to not let me study so I made sure I earned enough to pay my college fee,” she discloses.
Although Rizvi’s father was of the opinion that every child must have a profession so he/she is financially independent, she was not sure if he would let her practice as a lawyer. But once enrolled in the course, her parents knew there was no turning back. In January 1963, Majida Rizvi began her practice and was enrolled as a lawyer at the Sindh High Court in 1966.
Majida Rizvi attributes part of her success to Benazir Bhutto’s government who, as a woman leader, elevated the status of women in every field and, thus, Rizvi was promoted as the High Court Judge in 1988. “I remember when I went to India in 1964 to attend a Convention of International Lawyers where I learnt that the first female judge was hired there. At that point it seemed like a distant dream for women in Pakistan. I was later proved wrong in 1988.”
Apart from her practice, she also wrote articles for a magazine, Akhbar-e-Khawateen, and various English dailies in which she highlighted women’s issues. She also gave lectures at social welfare community centers in low-income neighbourhoods like Lyari and Landi where women were not as educated. With the help of community radios, Justice Rizvi also reached out to women in rural areas and through her discussions educated women on their rights – which was not welcomed by male members of the Pushto community [mostly], who felt she was trying to emancipate women. “I only wanted to create awareness on women rights as guaranteed by Islam but received life threats in return,” she reveals.
Rizvi lost three of her family members in a span of three years, which she believes helped her emerge as a stronger woman. “I lost my mother in 1972. Then my father died in 1973 followed by my brother’s death in 1975, who left behind a daughter. My entire family was wiped off and I was left with the responsibility of my own daughter and niece whom I had to raise on my own,” she reveal refusing to share details about her husband and married life.
Justice Rizvi believes her faith in God gave her the courage to face men. “I believe if you are convinced you are fighting for the right cause and believe in Him (God), there is nothing that can stop you from progressing.”
The hardworking lady, even after retirement, is involved in social work. Apart from dealing with cases privately, she heads an NGO Panah (a shelter home for women). Majida Rizvi is a member of the governing body of a charity run hospital Al-Mehrab Tibbi Imdad and of Soroptimist Club Pakistan as well, while she continues writing on legal issues pertaining women and children.
aroosa.khan@thenews.com.pk
When one thinks of the discriminatory Hudood Laws in the country’s constitution and the one person who dared to challenge the ordinance as against Islam, Justice (retd) Majida Rizvi’s name comes to mind. She is not only credited as the first woman judge of Pakistan in the Sindh High Court but is a distinguished social activist who has not stopped campaigning for women’s rights even after retirement.
Her career in law spans over 40 years and she has practiced in high courts and the Supreme Court. Apart from serving as a lawyer and judge, Justice Rizvi remained the chairperson of the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) for three years. During her tenure, a report that challenged the ambiguities in the Hudood Laws was also released in 2003 that received massive acknowledgement by the civil society since she was the first woman to break the myth that Hudood Laws were “Islamic”.
However, Rizvi’s journey to recognition has not been easy, she says. “I faced resistance from my parents and brother from the very first day I decided I wanted to study law,” she recalls. Having majored in Political Science and International Relations from the University of Karachi (KU) in the late 50s, Rizvi aspired to be a politician but she knew at once that women in Pakistan had a long way to go before they could make their mark in politics, so a career choice in that arena would not be a wise decision.
“I decided to do law instead but it was not easy to convince my parents for that either. I had to nag them for six months until they gave in,” she proudly adds after which she joined S.M. Law College. Since her classes would be in the evening, Rizvi would teach at a school in the morning so she could be financially independent as well. “I feared my parents could use money as an excuse to not let me study so I made sure I earned enough to pay my college fee,” she discloses.
Although Rizvi’s father was of the opinion that every child must have a profession so he/she is financially independent, she was not sure if he would let her practice as a lawyer. But once enrolled in the course, her parents knew there was no turning back. In January 1963, Majida Rizvi began her practice and was enrolled as a lawyer at the Sindh High Court in 1966.
Majida Rizvi attributes part of her success to Benazir Bhutto’s government who, as a woman leader, elevated the status of women in every field and, thus, Rizvi was promoted as the High Court Judge in 1988. “I remember when I went to India in 1964 to attend a Convention of International Lawyers where I learnt that the first female judge was hired there. At that point it seemed like a distant dream for women in Pakistan. I was later proved wrong in 1988.”
Apart from her practice, she also wrote articles for a magazine, Akhbar-e-Khawateen, and various English dailies in which she highlighted women’s issues. She also gave lectures at social welfare community centers in low-income neighbourhoods like Lyari and Landi where women were not as educated. With the help of community radios, Justice Rizvi also reached out to women in rural areas and through her discussions educated women on their rights – which was not welcomed by male members of the Pushto community [mostly], who felt she was trying to emancipate women. “I only wanted to create awareness on women rights as guaranteed by Islam but received life threats in return,” she reveals.
Rizvi lost three of her family members in a span of three years, which she believes helped her emerge as a stronger woman. “I lost my mother in 1972. Then my father died in 1973 followed by my brother’s death in 1975, who left behind a daughter. My entire family was wiped off and I was left with the responsibility of my own daughter and niece whom I had to raise on my own,” she reveal refusing to share details about her husband and married life.
Justice Rizvi believes her faith in God gave her the courage to face men. “I believe if you are convinced you are fighting for the right cause and believe in Him (God), there is nothing that can stop you from progressing.”
The hardworking lady, even after retirement, is involved in social work. Apart from dealing with cases privately, she heads an NGO Panah (a shelter home for women). Majida Rizvi is a member of the governing body of a charity run hospital Al-Mehrab Tibbi Imdad and of Soroptimist Club Pakistan as well, while she continues writing on legal issues pertaining women and children.
aroosa.khan@thenews.com.pk
