The right-wingers are at odds with liberal groups once again in Pakistan. This time the reason for confrontation is Women Protection Bill that has been adopted as a law in Punjab, the country’s largest province and stronghold of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s ruling party.
The law criminalizes physical and sexual violence, use of abusive language and psychological and emotional abuse against women. Not surprisingly, the law has angered right-wing groups, who boast immense street-power, and have threatened the government of launching nationwide protests if the “western agenda” to destroy Pakistan’s traditional family system is not stopped.
Unfortunately, such is the tendency of Pakistan’s deeply conservative and patriarchal society. All honest efforts to tackle serious societal issues, such as rights of women and children, are dismissed as conspiracies against the religion and homeland. Nonetheless, the facts stare straight into our face and point toward a bitter reality. According to the United Nation’s Gender Inequality Index, Pakistan is ranked 147th in a list of 188 countries courtesy its poor record in the areas of women's health, education, political empowerment and economic status. Another poll by Thomson Reuters Foundation names Pakistan as among the three most dangerous countries for women owing to persistent threats of violence, honor killings and inadequate healthcare.
A recent surge in murders of young women, who tried to exercise their basic rights and make life choices, only underscore the need to introduce laws that protect women. Oddly enough, these acts of brutality have not received widespread public condemnation as even a large number of women themselves accept exclusion and abuse as a norm.
The harsh realities of feudalism, male supremacy and narrow-mindedness deny women the space for a greater role in economy, politics and society at large in Pakistan. In such a scenario, drafting more legislation to improve the conditions of women is seen as a panacea. Implementation of successive laws, however, remains weak as state institutions frown upon cases of violence and abuse as a family matter and even go the extent of blaming the victim herself.
The reluctance of political elite to lead an open discourse and the controversial role of Council of Islamic Ideology reflects a mindset that tolerates or promotes intolerance towards women.
Perhaps, the Women Protection Bill is misinterpreted as a women empowerment law bent on disturbing the traditional power equation of a typical male-led household in Pakistan. Deep misogyny in our traditions, under the garb of religion, has been on full display in official and media discussions over the new law.
On a more positive note, the bill has seen the light and been praised as being comprehensive in its definition of violence. It also provides a district-level mechanism to report abuse cases, establish protection shelters and empowers courts to resolve domestic violence disputes. While the law itself calls for a “phased” implementation approach, it is hoped that the government will not backtrack from its move to address a shameful, but real, problem of Pakistan. Any compromise on this matter will be viewed as a sign of weakness to appease political opponents and weaken public’s trust in the government.
The law criminalizes physical and sexual violence, use of abusive language and psychological and emotional abuse against women. Not surprisingly, the law has angered right-wing groups, who boast immense street-power, and have threatened the government of launching nationwide protests if the “western agenda” to destroy Pakistan’s traditional family system is not stopped.
Unfortunately, such is the tendency of Pakistan’s deeply conservative and patriarchal society. All honest efforts to tackle serious societal issues, such as rights of women and children, are dismissed as conspiracies against the religion and homeland. Nonetheless, the facts stare straight into our face and point toward a bitter reality. According to the United Nation’s Gender Inequality Index, Pakistan is ranked 147th in a list of 188 countries courtesy its poor record in the areas of women's health, education, political empowerment and economic status. Another poll by Thomson Reuters Foundation names Pakistan as among the three most dangerous countries for women owing to persistent threats of violence, honor killings and inadequate healthcare.
A recent surge in murders of young women, who tried to exercise their basic rights and make life choices, only underscore the need to introduce laws that protect women. Oddly enough, these acts of brutality have not received widespread public condemnation as even a large number of women themselves accept exclusion and abuse as a norm.
The harsh realities of feudalism, male supremacy and narrow-mindedness deny women the space for a greater role in economy, politics and society at large in Pakistan. In such a scenario, drafting more legislation to improve the conditions of women is seen as a panacea. Implementation of successive laws, however, remains weak as state institutions frown upon cases of violence and abuse as a family matter and even go the extent of blaming the victim herself.
The reluctance of political elite to lead an open discourse and the controversial role of Council of Islamic Ideology reflects a mindset that tolerates or promotes intolerance towards women.
Perhaps, the Women Protection Bill is misinterpreted as a women empowerment law bent on disturbing the traditional power equation of a typical male-led household in Pakistan. Deep misogyny in our traditions, under the garb of religion, has been on full display in official and media discussions over the new law.
On a more positive note, the bill has seen the light and been praised as being comprehensive in its definition of violence. It also provides a district-level mechanism to report abuse cases, establish protection shelters and empowers courts to resolve domestic violence disputes. While the law itself calls for a “phased” implementation approach, it is hoped that the government will not backtrack from its move to address a shameful, but real, problem of Pakistan. Any compromise on this matter will be viewed as a sign of weakness to appease political opponents and weaken public’s trust in the government.
