Daily Times

With the election of Sherry Rehman as Pakistan’s first female leader of the opposition in the National Assembly’s upper house, Pakistan People’s Party has achieved yet another historic milestone.

It accrues to a remarkable list of firsts by the PPP including the first female prime minister of a Muslim country, the first female Speaker of the NA and the first female foreign minister of Pakistan to name a few.

Pakistan has come a long way in terms of women’s rights and inclusiveness. Regarded as one of the most conservative and misogynist states by foreign countries, ironically our first Oscar were won by a woman who highlighted the pathetic state of women in Pakistan. Similarly, Pakistan gained further fame when Malala Yusufzai became the world’s youngest Nobel laureate.

But Pakistan was not always making headlines for abuses on women. I still remember my trip to Disney World as a kid in 1995. When I would identify myself as a Pakistani, Americans would instantly reply ‘Oh! Benazir’s country.’

It is important to remember that BB did not become the prime minister solely because she was the daughter of Pakistan’s most influential political leader, but it was her decade-long struggle against tyrants that led her to the prime minister office.

But Pakistan was not always making headlines for the abuse of women. I still remember my trip to Disney World as a kid in 1995. When I would identify myself as a Pakistani, Americans would instantly reply ‘Oh! Benazir’s country’

What could not be achieved earlier in the 60’s by Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah when she stood up against Ayub Khan was made possible by the relentless efforts of Benazir Bhutto and PPP jialas.

Perhaps it was this struggle that helped her realise the hardships faced by women in Pakistan and thus put women’s empowerment high on her list of policy endeavours. The 90’s are regarded as the turning point in women’s rights in Pakistan. After Zia’s dark regime had put Pakistani women back a century we finally witnessed progress in the PPP government from 1993-96. The First Women Bank, Women Police Stations and Lady Health Workers Program were all BB’s brainchild.

In February 1996, Pakistan ratified the United Nations’ Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW); this was a major achievement of the People’s Party government on international covenants pertaining to the rights of women. The PPP government also set up Crisis Centres for women in Distress that aimed at providing medical and legal aid to women victims of violence. Groundbreaking progress was made in terms of women’s education and vocational training. A number of female judges were also appointed during this tenure.

Even outside of government and BB was not only Pakistan’s first female Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly but also the most impactful. It was only her efforts that ensured protection of women’s quota in parliament and government jobs while right wing parties tried to abolish such quotas. Her efforts to restore democracy continued even in exile and was undisputedly a major factor in Musharraf’s ouster. Hence a female Pakistani politician defeated not one but two military dictators.

With her untimely martyrdom the PPP honoured her legacy and established the Benazir Income Support Program which has disbursed over Rs 412 billion women as unconditional income support.

Apart from financial assistance the BISP works on education, health and employment schemes to benefit women. During the 2008-13 tenure pro-women legislation was unmatched including laws and acts for establishment of National Commission on the Status of Women, Anti-Women Practices Act, Anti-Acid Crimes Law, Protection of Women at Workplace Law at the Federal level. Sindh Assembly led by PPP also adopted Sindh Child Marriages Restraint Act 2013, Domestic Violence (Protection & Prevention) Act 2015 and Commission on the Status of Women 2015.

Come 2018 and the recent census emphasises that half of Pakistan is made up of women thus requiring greater inclusion and representation. In the 2018 general elections we must ensure a greater role of women in society not only as voters but also candidates. After all, women belong in the House and the Senate!

The writer is a former Pakistani Diplomat with vast experience in the USA

Published in Daily Times, March 27^th 2018.