Saturday, February 28, 2009

Women in Politics by Zamurrad AWan


Women in Politics

Pakistani society from its outset exhibits the patriarchal mind set with the dominance of male members over their women folk. The cultural obligations of Pakistani society predominantly supported the conservative elements; consequently women participation in social, economic and political spheres was substantially curtailed. Before going in to the details of women political status in Pakistan it would be worth mentioning that the women struggled for their rights even in Europe to whom we idealize in regard of liberal society. April Carter in his book “Politics of Women rights” reveals that prior to the First World War (1914-1918) women were fully involved in household work. By the end of the Second World War (1939-1945) however women role underwent a complete transformation. In 1960 the doors for the higher education were opened up for them that was the time when in Europe, women started participating in economic, social but political spheres.
The history of women participation in Pakistani politics started from the days of Pakistan movement, when these women worked day and night along with their male colleagues with the unflinching commitment and reposed full faith in their leader Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. However, their participation could not ensure them about their future in the new social and political settings of an independent state. After 1947, though the Pakistan attained its independence from the colonial rule, however, women continued to play a role that of a second fiddle to their male counter parts. After independence, in the first constituent assembly there were only two women to represent all the women of Pakistan. Paradoxically, when the second constituent assembly was constituted not even a single woman was given representation in it. Similarly, in the process of the framing of the first constitution of 1956, not a single woman got opportunity to represent the women of Pakistan. In 1956 constitution the female suffrage and right to vote for women on the general and reserved seats was accepted but the Martial law was imposed in 1958 and the first constitution was abrogated. However, under the strenuous pressure of a prominent organization ‘All Pakistan Women Association’ with other newly constituted women NGOs (Non Governmental Organizations) Muslim Family Law Ordinance was promulgated in 1961. Ulema started a massive agitation against MFLO but the ordinance was welcomed by the civil society. In 1965, Ayub Khan decided to hold national elections in which Fatima Jinnah emerged as his opponent. Ironically despite his modernist pretensions he acquired the services of certain ulema and entrusted them with the task of issuing disparaging statements against the women leadership in an Islamic state. The election results witnessed massive rigging in polls and Ayub Khan unexpectedly won the elections, though apparently he became the president but he lost the credibility. The women candidate for such a prestigious office demonstrated how active the women in Pakistan were; moreover, it infused a new lease of life among the women activists thus the struggle for their equal status was greatly re-enforced.
In 1970 elections, women participation was not only encouraged by the political parties , establishing women wings to further motivate women in polls. The political parties included the women related issue in their manifestos. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto assumed powers in 1971, who had a liberal approach towards women empowerment. During his election campaign he mobilized women section of society to come out of their houses to cast their votes. But when the constitution making assembly was formed, only three women had been included to represent the women of Pakistan. In 1973 constitution Article 25, 27, 32, 34, and 228 ensured non-discrimination on the basis of gender but unfortunately it failed to emancipate women. In parliament, 10% seats were reserved for women; all high posts of executive and political level were opened up for women. However, the number of women seats in parliament was very small in comparison to their proportion in population.
Amrita Basu in her research paper “Women Political Parties and Social Movement in South Asia” stated “the Zia regime (1977-1988) was engaged in far-reaching programs of Islamization that sought to rescind women’s rights and reduce their public visibility.” He constituted discriminatory laws against women with the full support of religious political parties in the form Hudood Ordinance, Law of Evidence, law of Qisas and Diyat, which marginalized women in social, economic and political spheres. These laws targeted the women section of society to appease the conservative mind sets in government, consequently women role was confined in every field of life. The ambivalent stance of the Political parties in Pakistan towards women empowerment marginalized them from the rest of the society. Therefore they remained dependent on male members, in matter of their participation in social, economic and political spheres. However, this regime created such circumstances which led to setting up of the women organizations like Women Action Forum, Shirkat Gah etc. These organizations subsequently played pivotal role against women policy of discrimination against women. They made oppressed women aware of their rights and provided them a platform to launch struggle against government’s biased policies.
From 1947 to 1980 the women activism remained quite marginal. In fact the women who participated in politics belonged to the political families, having male relatives already active in politics. Thus those women didn’t represent the middle and lower class women and were not motivated enough to put forward the demands of women section to the Assemblies. Because of patrilineal structure of society the women from middle class found it almost impossible to enter in politics and if few of them managed to succeed; they worked as a rubber stamp to their male counterparts in politics. The same case happened with Benazir Bhutto who was elected as a Prime Minister of Pakistan twice. She faced the Criticism of Mullahs on women leadership during her government. It’s ironical to say that she was assassinated on 27 December 2007 in Rawalpindi on the land where the people called themselves Muslims however Islam strictly condemn the women beating. This was a murder of human rights, women rights both.
In regard of women status in Politics we need to change the mind sets of society. Thought to bring a change is not easy itself and changes are not easily acceptable and mostly they face resentments but this dream can become the reality if we try to educate our society and if we present the true picture of religion by interpreting the Islamic jurisdiction over the women participation in every field whether it is economic, social or political. In this regard we need to provide equal opportunities at par with men.
Zamurrad Awan
Lecturer
Kinnaird College for Women, Lhr
zamurredawan@yahoo.com