Women In Pakistan; The Pro-Women Bill and its implementation Issues.

The Pro-Women Bill &Implementation Issues In Pakistan.
Interactive Article  by Dr Meher Zaidi.

Pakistan has a population of almost 51% women and its youth bulge in women is also very large. The practices of early marriages including Child Marraige is very common. http://www.unmultimedia.org/radio/english/detail/117281.html
http://asiapacific.amnesty.org/apro/aproweb.nsf/pages/svaw_childMarriages
http://youtu.be/m43_WyiRZyI
http://crlc.info/ CHILD'S RIGHTS DESK PAKISTAN.

Practices such as Vani http://www.islamawareness.net/Marriage/Child/childmarriages.html hinder the education and development of girls in Pakistan to actually become fully productive, contributing citizens of this over populous country.In Pakistan  a custom known as Swara hangs like a cursed sword over millions of  females who are unable to access any rights or justice.http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=34896

A country beleaguered by issues of poverty and corruption, the future blackout of millions of women seems almost a Biblical Sin. The Islamist parties like the Jamaat e Islami do not understand either the socio-political or the future economic impact of opposing gender friendly laws in Muslim societies like Pakistan. They are way back in understanding the modern ethno-religious impact of gender discrimination in the future existence of the societies and its effect on the environment and politics of the planet. They are doing a dis-service to Islam by not addressing these repulsive and destructive customs and a hindrance to progress of more than half of  Pakistan's population. The issues of education and employment for women are almost like a small outside issue in Pakistani politics.

Imran Khan should bring these issues into mainstream politics.

 The Pakistan Tehrike Insaaf of Imran Khan fame is also not addressing these issues in a clear and cogent way either. This seems to reflect the long set feudal and primitive patriarchal mindset in Pakistan.This must change  . It is a major challenge that the Tehrike Insaaf needs to address. It needs to bring these issues in mainstream politics.It seems that presently it will be difficult for this party to do this as it needs to increase its vote bank for which it is tapping into the same feudal, patriarchal mindset people but if he creates a women friendly cell in his think tank with a very proactive woman heading it or person like IA Rehman, he may be doing the YOUTH in Pakistan a great favour.According to Harvard business review way back in 1997 it was realised that women factor in US businesses will be very important. With the Pakistani workforce of more than 50% women, why is this a small issue? Also female child worker in Pakistan contributes to a large part of our formal and informal economy.
The only ray of light is shown by the present parliament which passed the bill named Anti-Women Parctices (Criminal Law Amendment) unanimously which safeguards the rights of women against practices such as marraige to the Quran etc.http://blog.naseeb.com/2009/09/married-to-the-quran/ http://www.islamawareness.net/Marriage/Quran/

http://www.dawn.com/2011/11/17/anti-women-customs.html
The issues of female education and economic progress and contribution to the national economy are directly linked to this bill implementation. If passed by the Senate (and not allowed to be lapsed as in the case of Domestic Violence bill) this will do a great service to the nation and also the Muslim society in Pakistan.
There is a dire need for the young politicians and aspirants to assemblies to understand and address these issues as mainstream political issues.A great deal of education of media, masses, young politicians needs to be undertaken. Gone are the times if female gender activist bashing and dehumanising and criticism of the gender friendly NGOs . Gone is the time for treating these issues as a "Western" or "Foreign interference" in our innocent population. This is now an issue of progress, future prosperity, and EXISTENCE as a respectable country on this planet.Patriarchial and suppressive practices must end and let Pakistan enter its BRIGHT, YOUNG FUTURE.

Dr Meher Zaidi with her Masjid patients.

Iqbal's Universal Message To Muslims...Relevant This "ARAB SPRING" ?

Imran Khan's Great Game of Sorts.

All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages. William Shakespeare.

His rally was much awaited , well, as he is so attractive to the media.So I was not surprised when his coolly "choreographed" well orchestrated rally came as a television show with the right songs being played between pauses and all the singers and bands for youth. Then there was the stage finessed flag and scene changing. The Pakistan flag coming up as the nouveau leader comes to the podium. His speech was also well "choreographed" with the right amount of time to lambast the "old" politicians and then he gave some time to the program that he claims will change and save Pakistan. Some salient features like Thar Coal, Getting money back from Swiss and foreign accounts and land reforms seemed attractive .But are they enough? The answer is no. He even asked the USA to help them withdraw from Afghanistan. How was he going to do that? Is he in links with Afghan Taleban? And how?  He keeps his hand on the anti-American pulse of some people of Pakistan and says that we will after coming into power be friends with all the world including USA but will not take dictation from them. What is he talking about? When in power? Or are the elections being rigged this time  to bring him into power? From the Pakistan flag coming up the stage background and the Pakistan Bachao Rally being organized at Minar e Pakistan despite the Nawaz League's strong opposition it seems that some third force is backing Mr. Imran Khan. This is too obvious. The azme Alishan campaign on a tv channel is part of the same game. Pictures of allama Iqbal in the background, Minare Pakistan as the venue, give the clues of the choreographer. The only positive side is that the corrupt may now be under some pressure.  After the hopeless display by the Pakistan Tehrike Insaaf in Sindh in last years floods, the Sindhi people will never vote for this wolf in a sheep's clothing(simily) especially as he so despises and hates the other large urban party leadership.It seems that for the time bieng Mr. Imran Khan's rally will remain an entertaining focus on some issues like corruption, negotiating with the Taleban and a third force inspirational populist hero presentation despite the Washington Post's claims of large crowds http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/pakistani-cricket-hero-imran-khans-rally-against-government-draws-large-turnout/2011/10/30/gIQAfbLIWM_story.html and The Sidney Morning Herald's same claims http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/pakistani-cricket-hero-imran-khans-rally-against-government-draws-large-turnout/2011/10/30/gIQAfbLIWM_story.html 

Pakistan Happenings...The Bites Of October2011.

Better to have beasts that let themselves be killed than men who run away. 
Jean-Paul Sartre 


Life in this happening country seems such a vortex. Confusion abounds,hollow promises prevail, a daze bordering on stupor is what young men think is a hope for the future. Punjab rises almost like paper tigers, one sided, limp. The call for protests on the streets by lonely, lonesome, single and single handed leaders like Sheikh Rasheed, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Jehangir Tareen,falls on the really deaf ears of the poor, hungry, illiterate, exploited masses who cannot see them as they neither have television sets nor any electricity. The scions and paper, oops sorry tigers/ lions of Punjab give call for anarchy. Come out on the streets and do what? Break public property? Poor people of the Punjab, especially the jigar daran of Lahore; being cut to sizes like moths by the deadly Dengue virus. The public hygiene and the public health that was single handedly governed and "improved" by Mr. Shahbaz Sharif exposed.The older brother making convenient "Shamiana" trips to Sindh to show his presence, failing to satisfy any rain/flood affected people. Calls for a third force being exposed by Nadeem Mallick http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nadeem_Malik_(Pakistani_journalist)
in his talk show Islamabad tonite.So who and what constitute a third force?The PML -F as it is a small Pir Pagara power party cannot bring about revolution.Sheikh Rashed of the small Awami Muslim League dreaming or rather stuporing about an Arab Spring in Pakistan as if the Zia ul Haq Arab/ Foreign assault on Pakistan is not enough for a lifetime.
And the fascistinating ,oops the fascinating brilliant politics of Sindh. Mr. Zulfiqar Mirza giving television speeches/ interviews bordering on blasphemy in his , uh , so charming, naive, immature way. Giving challenges almostlike a little spoilt boy who really does not know what he wants to achieve and diverting attention albeit for a few seconds from the real plight of the peasants, workers, small traders of Sindh who have now according to the Oxfam and World Food Program, no food to eat. Diverting attention by trite issues like do not like the faces of MQM boys from grave issues like severe malnutrition , almost no doctors and lady doctors in Sindh, bad infrastructure like roads and bridges in Sindh, total lack of machinery for water removal, which the Sindh government should have obtained on a permanent basis after the 2010 floods. Despite pleas by sane people to improve the irrigation department and bringing about meaningful governance on waterways and their infrastructure, the Sindh government was busy somehow managing to appear to do some work in this area. The tragedy of Indus Right Bank, the displacement of millions of people, the indignity of their camp life and their courageous return to their villages and towns has not even been recognised by the "smart, ready for sacrifice" Sindh politicians. Instead of concentrating on real development and restructuring they are concentrating on fighting turf wars in Karachi and Hyderabad.
A sane voice calls out. This is not the time for fight. No time for revolution. Do not become like the court of  King Louis XVI  but more like Louis the IVth http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_XIV_of_France.
As far as men go, it is not what they are that interests me, but what they can become.
Jean-Paul Sartre 
Is there hope in such a bleak , well, hazy scenario? Yes , if we start doing serious politics, not stupid politics. The politicians need to become sane. My God that is not demanding too much or is it?They need to read more for one.They need to listen more for two. And definitely they need to act after informed discussion and debate in order to survive in this fast moving world.
Everything has been figured out, except how to live.
Jean-Paul Sartre 
So go figure out how to live and not how to destroy by ignorance and corruption.

Freedom is what you do with what's been done to you.  Jean-Paul Sartre  Free the people from oppression, tyranny and disease. Give them education. Give them pens and not guns.Give them the chance to live. Give them health and not death.http://mehernewspappar.blogspot.com/2010/11/new-strategies-adopted-by-international.html http://mehernewspappar.blogspot.com/2011/05/current-state-of-post-flood.html

Need to Reinterpret Islamic thought by Muslim scholars.

http://youtu.be/V-WPrr6pDL4
Whenever a debate arises about any rape or sexual harassment issue, the Jamaat e Islami always takes a stance where its members instead of debating start accusing the questioner with  blasphemy. The danger of this kind of accusations in public is that some criminal kills the guy  and there is no redressal. This happened in the case of the previous governor of Punjab. This kind of irresponsible behaviour by a leader of such a large political party shows their true mindset. Here he argues with the questioner that you are not Muslim and you are talking against the Prophet of Islam (May Peace Be Upon Him) when the questioner is just presenting another Muslim Ulema point of view for the argument.This is the state of serious debate on issues in Pakistan where the discussion on law and human rights are never held on a serious basis. There are 72 sects in Islam. Religious scholarship has taken back seat and for the last 700 years no serious debate and work has been done to address the issues of law, society and human rights. People like Maulana Maudoodi who had the great capacity for scholarship have died and in the near future I see no scholars or universities where such a task will be undertaken.
Here in UK, a new book is published by an eminent scholar who is also an advisor to the Pope , To be Human in Islam by Damian Howard. This book will have great influence on future opinionin the West and I am sad that no Jamaate Islami or any Pakistani Muslim Ulema and scholars will read this. All the future work of this scholar will also be not read and debated by this author and so a great chance to debate and influence any future thought and opinion by Muslims will be lost.
The issues of serious reinterpretation, debate, contextualization of Islamic and Quranic thought in the modern times are lacking in Muslim scholarship and if coming from the West by a serious and influential Jesuit priest , the Muslim input maybe lost forever. It is sad that Muslims in Pakistan do not understand the gravity of the situation and are busy in bickering amongst themselves and are wasting time in superficial and false aggression.

Preetam Mat Pardes Padharo.

http://youtu.be/Z9bBGEFssWA

Ramzan Blessings.Donate Generously to Causes In Pakistan.

By Dr. Meher Zaidi.
Ramzan comes with good news for all the Muslims to renew and re-pledge their commitment to humanity and to do good deeds. The ritual of fasting inculcates a discipline in the self to look at the rights of other fellow human beings and come out of the ego-centric self. The supreme form of worship of Allah is to give everything to fellow human beings in order to please Him.The Prophet of Islam (May peace and blessings be on him forever) made exemplary his life by showing simple deeds like charity and eating less and wearing simple things.His daily use things were simple and when he died he left a straw mat for a bed and needle and thread with which he repaired his patched clothes. The impact he made on humanity was greatest by his exemplary character of which the most outstanding aspect was his love and caring for humanity and tolerance. The Quran says of the people who are true believers that "Those who give whatever they give while their hearts are fearful because they will be returning to their Lord" (Surah Al-Muminun) and "It is those who hasten to do good deeds, and they outstrip(others) therein' (Surah Al-Muminun).
This Ramzan please donate generously to the good causes and organizations in Pakistan who are helping millions of deserving people. Some I list here:

CHIPA WELFARE ASSOCIATION :WWW.CHHIPA.ORG  021-111 111 134 EMAIL:INFO@CHHIPA.ORG
THIS ORGANIZATION HAS A LARGE NETWORK OF AMBULANCES AND OTHER HEALTH AND EMERGENCY ACTIVITIES. THEY HAVE HELPED THE VIOLENCE AND FLOOD VICTIMS ALSO. THEY ARE IN DIRE NEED OF AMBULANCES AS THEY EXPAND THEIR AREA OF COVERAGE.DONATE GENEROUSLY TO HELP THEM ACHIEVE THEIR HUMANITARIAN NEEDS GOALS.

SOCIETY FOR CHILDREN IN NEED OF SPECIAL ATTENTION (SCINOSA) 216,THE PLAZA,KHAYABANEIQBAL,CLIFTON, KARACHI-75600. PHONE: (92-21) 3583 8787
CELL# 0336-7246672 FAX: (92-21)3583 7684
MCB BANK LIMITED; PLS AC No:1984-6, CORPORATE BRANCH, SHARAHE FAISAL KARACHI.
PLS AC No: 3400-6,NORTH NAZIMABAD  BRANCH, KARACHI.
BANK AL-HABIB LTD.,NATIONWIDE AC No: 1100-0081-000444-01-7 HELPING CHILDREN DISABLED BY DOWN"S SYNDROME AND MENTAL RETARDATION SINCE 1960.

BAITUL SUKOON CANCER HOSPITAL &HOSPICE : SNPA 17-J,BLOCK 3, KCHS UNION ,KARACHI,PAKISTAN. TEL: (92-21) 4553834-6, FAX: (92-21) 4553942
EMAIL: baitulsukoon@hotmail.com  WWW.BAITULSUKOON.ORG   DONATE GENEROUSLY TO THIS MUCH NEEDED ORGANIZATION.

AL-SHIFA TRUST HOSPITALS IN RAWALPINDI,SUKKUR,KOHAT& MUZAFFARABAD FIGHTING BLINDNESS IN PAKISTAN.DONATE GENEROUSLY. AL-SHIFA TRUST EYE HOSPITAL, JHELUM ROAD,RAWALPINDI. TEL:051-5487820-4  WWW.ALSHIFA-EYE.ORG
ASKARI BANK LTD A/C NO: (0181)1650000315 HABIB BANK LTD.,A/C No:
(2301)79005569-01  MCB BANK LTD., A/C No: 0701000008-7,  NBP A/C No: (1858)18-5

BINTE FATIMA OLD HOME TRUST, KARACHI,PAKISTAN. WWW.BFOLDHOME.ORG.
bfoldhome@hotmail.com
A/C 00582002200204

THESPIANZ FOUNDATION: PROVIDING FREE EDUCATION TO CHILDREN IN POOR LOCALITIES.
STANDARD CHARTERED A/C No: 01-1771945-01 EMAIL: INFO@THESFO.ORG WWW.THESFO.ORG

(Reference information account numbers etc published in DAWN newspapers (JULY 2011) , The Holy Quran(Al Muntada Al Islami), personal visit to the trust premises).