Being Pakistani

opinion

On a recent trip to a South Asian neighbourhood, it was a pleasure to see how being a Pakistani was a big source of pride. It was nice to hear praises for my country, contrary to the negative image it has acquired for reasons beyond our control. It was heartening to see that people from other countries wanted to hear about our country, culture, how women lived here and what we ate. Most of which they already knew from the stories they heard in the news - mostly of attacks and bloodshed as a result of terrorism.

They asked if women in Pakistan are allowed to step out of the house; seek education; drive; forced to get married against their wills? It was interesting to see how they imagined the Pakistani women shackled like slaves at home and beaten up. And, it was also a tricky question to answer because things are not too simple to explain.

Women make almost half of the country’s population so it was a little difficult to clarify to them why this huge chunk of the population wasn’t contributing in the betterment of the country. After all, every great nation has progressed when the entire population has contributed to its success. Even the thought of it seems quite fascinating that what Pakistan could achieve by harnessing the potential of its female citizens in different fields - from agriculture to governance. We wish, one day, Pakistan can also benefit from this idea...

Right now, a large number of women do live in the most difficult circumstances and at times are treated worse than animals. Women are killed in the name of honour mostly for no crime of their own; they are still pawned off to settle debts of their male relatives; deprived from basic rights like proper healthcare and education. So, I spoke of all the issues that women in Pakistan face and it was amazing to hear similar stories from the others too. But I felt proud that I had some positive stories to tell about Pakistani women as well, who were and are great patriots and fight for the rights of others despite the tough forces opposing them. Such are the examples of Sabeen Mahmood and Parveen Rehman, who paid the price of standing up for human rights with their lives, but their deaths only ignited a flame that produced many other women like them. Other great Pakistani women which the country is proud to call its daughters include Asma Jahangir; Benazir Bhutto; Maleeha Lodhi and Malala - strong vocal women who have stood for not only their own rights but the rights of others too. And, there are undoubtedly numerous other women who are working silently to do something not only for the country but its people as well.

A Pakistani woman is multi-faceted. She has to deal with opposition from her own home and family, this is a difficult thing to fight against. It means you are deviating from the norm and that in itself is enough to get her bashed or even killed.

She lives in a misogynist society where she has to struggle for the most basic rights like voicing her opinion. She is forced to live in the shadows without an identity of her own. But when such a woman decides to bring change, the results are amazing.

With time, the status of Pakistani women is shifting. And, with Election 2018, women have started coming out to bring revolution even if it comes to the less privileged areas of the country.

For instance, in places like Dir which is located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, women had not voted since the 1970s for various reasons but came out in the election this year to cast their votes.

We also saw women coming out as candidates in places like Bannu, also in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where a lady who was 100 years old stood as a candidate from her area - an unprecedented but refreshing move. A woman candidate hailed from Thar in Sindh where recently we saw a local woman become a senator.

Unfortunately, no woman candidate from KP was successful but it is good to know that they are taking part in the process and hopefully in the coming years, we will see more women being elected and sent to the parliament.

Presently, there is still a lot that needs to be done to empower women in Pakistan for which powerful and effective legislation needs to be acquired at all levels. Also, there is a dire need for revision of existing laws to help women attain their basic rights and to protect them from being exploited.

The journey is a long and hard one, but Pakistanis are resilient and the women more so. After all being a citizen of Pakistan, it is their duty to contribute to the struggle and to move towards greatness.