Daily Times

KARACHI: Until a few years back, politics was considered to be the muscular domain but with increasing political awareness and education some women have also stepped into the political arena in large numbers and are playing due role in country’s politics despite numerous challenges ranging from harassment to stereotype behavior and lack of space in public domain to unfavorable environment in political parties.

Recently, a female lawmaker affiliated with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Ayesha Gulalai, levelled damning allegations of harassment and indecent text messaging against her former party’s head, Imran Khan. The accusations have stunned everyone especially women who are in politics.

In the backdrop of Gulalai case, Daily Times talked to senior women politicians who shared their views about politics, harassment and issues relating to them. Despite cases of harassment, male chauvinism and relatively less space for females in public domain in society, the female politicians sound determined to continue their political journeys, calling upon more and more women to participate in politics to further gain their space in society.

Kishwer Zehra, MNA and member of MQM-Pakistan, was of the view that women have always played crucial role in politics even before the existence of Pakistan. Fatimah Jinnah was very active in Pakistan Movement and participated in the struggle for creation of Pakistan side by side with his brother, Quaid-e-Azam.

She said that even today women are actively in politics despite being insulted and disgraced.

She called upon political parties to encourage common women to participate in active politics and create opportunities and space for them instead of only inducting forth the daughters, sisters or relatives of part heads or other influential leaders.

To a question she said that Gulalai has been talk of the town and media is giving undue coverage to her. She was critical of media’s coverage of some women politicians just for their appearance at the expense of dedicated, hard working, competent and diehard female politicians.

Indirectly criticising PTI, Zehra said that character assassination drive against anyone should not be launched the moment she left her party.

Naz Baloch, a female politician associated ruling PPP, said that she did not endorse Gulalai’s allegations, saying that she never faced such attitude when she was in PTI.

She opined that there was no any harm if any woman leaves any party over ‘ideological’ differences. Women face problems from their fellow female political activists more than their male counterparts. She also complained about the prevailing trend of not considering women politicians for major tasks in parties and at the time of government formation.

She said that late Begum Nusrat Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto had played a significant role as women politicians had their imprint on the political landscape of the country.

“BB was the first female prime minister of the Muslim world and also the youngest prime minister of Asia. BB is a true role model for every woman who steps into politics. I see the same courage and passion in Aseefa and Bakhtawar and it will be more encouraging if both take part in forthcoming General Elections,” said Baloch

Nusrat Sehar Abbasi, a provincial legislator associated with PML-F, said that once MPA Imdad Pitafi had insulted her and used abusive language in response to a question asked by her in Sindh Assembly. “I took a stand against the abuse and made him apologise to me publicly and on the floor of the House.”

“The ration of corruption when compared to men is less and women politicians are more popular than their male associated among people,” she opined.

Abbasi said that they face stereotype behaviour in Assembly and routine life. “We need to change our way and not let any one to use us”.

Regarding abuse and harassment of female politicians she called for setting an example of the abusers so no one could dare to insult or harass women.

She termed the Gulalai episode as horrific; if there is any truth in it.

One disappointed female politician said that women card was very common in politics because women were recognised only in rare cases. “If women are related to male political leaders by blood or marriage they are accepted otherwise they suffer like actresses,” she added.

“As Fatima Jinnah was Quaid-e-Azam’s sister, Benazir was Bhutto’s daughter, Maryam is Nawaz Sharif’s daughter so they held immense popularity and influence,” she said.

She said that even media reporters ask questions about their clothes, hairstyles, and handbags etc, their camera is focused constantly their appearance, and other things that were not relevant.

Nasreen Aslam Shah, director of Women’s Studies in Karachi University, said that women were not less than men in any way.

“As far as Ayesha Gulalai is concerned she is only one case in our society, women must ignore it and keep moving ahead,” she advised. She added that no one could deny the importance of women, as they constituted about 50 percent of the population of the country.

“These women politicians are role models for Pakistani girls and women and can make them realise the importance of their votes and get their voices heard on all important issues and decision making process,” she added. Regarding Ayesha Gulalai’s allegation Hamza Ali Abbasi tweeted that “Joining or leaving any political party is the democratic right but playing woman cards is not correct”.

On the other hand Anoushy Ashraf tweeted that “Received text messaged in 2013 and reporting in 2017 during that Ayesha Gulalai kept working and supporting him, how disgraceful it is”.

Published in Daily Times, August 23^rd 2017.