Daily Times

Female segment makes half or probably slightly more than half of our total population but it, unfortunately, stands suppressed or even persecuted in one way or other. Social mosaic, particularly of the countryside, is under profound influence of tribal codes and customs where a woman comes last. Being least educated and having a negligible say in socio-tribal culture, she has no consent when it comes to the choice of her marriage. In fact, there are many instances where she is treated below her dignity she is entitled to. Contrary to that there had been first female Prime Minister of a Muslim country in Pakistan. This carried some encouragement for female population to come forward and occupy its due role in society. Gradually, they entered in bureaucracy, technocracy and reached legislative assemblies but the male majoritarian and chauvinism still seriously keeps them haunting.

A few days ago, an unpleasant scene took place during the session of Sindh Assembly when Nusrat Sehar Abbasi, a female legislator belonging to Pakistan Muslim League-Functional asked some questions from Imdad Ali Pitafi, a ruling party legislator and Minister for Works and Services related to his ministry. Mr Pitafi probably being ill-prepared to respond questions appropriately found the queries vexing. His words, addressed to a female legislator, spelt utter obscenity and vulgarism. While his party colleagues kept on exchanging smiles with little visible pleasure on their faces. Even chief minister Syed Murad Ali Shah was also not seen taken aback while witnessing his cabinet member’s highly unparliamentary language. She in fact protested in a manner having the right to protest and afterwards being in rage threatened to set herself ablaze in the assembly hall if no punitive action taken against the provincial minister. Amid massive reaction of people in social media, party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari expressed their anger against cabinet member who then during next session of assembly walked to the aggrieved legislator and apologised. He also draped traditional ajrak (shawl) over her head. She accepted his apology in keeping with the tradition of Sindhi culture. The smirk on Mr Paitafi’s face was making him more unapologetic than feeling guilty.

Begging apology and accepting the same doesn’t mean that the highly unpleasant scene hasn’t taken place. He even did not get a rap on the knuckles from deputy speaker assembly, conducting the assembly proceedings, over bad tongue he used against a female member of the assembly. Such a highly abominable scene took place in the assembly which is seen as ‘mother assembly’ of our country. Imdad Pitafi is known for his snobbishness and audacity. As per a section of print media, some time ago Mr Pitafi has had heated debate and argument with Syed Murad Ali Shah over running of some unauthorised ‘Toll Plaza’ on Karachi-Thatta road. Murad Shah subsequently got it disbanded. A cabinet member appears to be so headstrong that he argues with Chief Minister for sparing an illegally run Toll Plaza.

And this is not the first time that a female member has been harassed. Earlier Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Federal Minister for Defence in National Assembly passed derogatory remarks against Shireen Mazari, a female legislator belonging to Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaf. This attitude reflects the ‘male chauvinism’ which is bound to unnecessarily pump the sense of superiority in male members of the population. Peoples’ elected representatives should rather be a role model for others to follow. Their morally unsound behaviour is bound to encourage adverse trends in society.

On the other hand, PPP needs to set envious examples of being considerate to everyone. This will help its unsystematically oscillating profile to stabilise. The party has almost lost its political space in rest of the provinces of the country due to its poor performance in previous government which was badly dotted with corruption, inefficiency, favouritism and nepotism, whereas it is struggling to maintain its little space in Sindh, the home province of party leadership. Such disgraceful attitude of its members with a female member hailing from rural socio-tribal milieu is not going to help party profile. Nusrat Sehar Abbasi invariably comes well-prepared in assembly sessions where she points out the sagging areas in governance and her this attitude is liked by people particularly by the educated young lot irrespective of party affinities. Peer Pagara, the spiritual leader and head of PML-F in a statement condemned the unacceptable behaviour of PPP legislator and demanded of PPP leadership to see as to how an individual not even knowing how to behave with a female member of assembly has been awarded party ticket. Besides, a protest demonstration was also held by workers of PML-F in Khipro, district Sanghar against PPP member of the assembly.

Benazir Bhutto (late) had always been an advocate of equal rights for women. The present leadership of her party must realise the same and exhort party followers accordingly. Nusrat Sehar Abbasi’s assertive presence in assembly is in fact seen as a source of inspiration for others. The lacklustre performance of PPP in Sindh province badly handicapped with corruption, inefficiency, and audacious violation of institutional bars have demoralised the populace. The latter has almost lost the confidence in this government. Fast dwindling confidence of people is a huge loss for the party. PPP is likely to see its re-election in 2018 general elections from Sindh, but the situation would turn otherwise if there will be some dependable alternate political force in the province.

Education is in doldrums; health department’s performance can be seen from the recently reported widespread of AIDS virus from infected dialysis machines/equipment in Larkana; children are dying due to starvation in Tharparkar; local police’s politicization brought Rangers to control worsening law and order situation; development works’ tenders are being awarded to contractors under questionable circumstances; incidents of favouritism in Sindh Public Service Commission prompted Supreme Court of Pakistan to take suo moto notice, are few examples painting worst picture of Sindh government’s performance. If a female member from opposition benches tries to highlight weak areas of governance, she is harassed so that her voice is stifled. This unfortunate episode has badly dented Benazir Bhutto’s party. To re-strengthen the party’s moral standing the leadership should think for disciplinary action against the gross misconduct of this member bordering his moral bankruptcy. Besides, party chairman must rethink and re-evaluate criterion to award party tickets and assign ministerial portfolios to party members so that such cheap activity is avoided in future.

The writer is a freelance columnist and presently working on a paper researching rural crime and causes