Newly elected Pakistani National Assembly is effectively in place. The Prime Minister has taken oath of his office; the most interesting feature of this new assembly is the group of women on reserved seats. The idea was introduced by former dictator, General Musharraf apparently to give adequate representation to women, in this male dominated Pakistani society. It was to encourage 52 percent of Pakistani population to have their input in law making, particularly in matters pertaining to women.
The idea was wonderful, and would have genuinely helped women, if we had a better electoral process. The only way anyone can come to the Assemblies is through elections, which are won by money, and so these women from privileged class enter to represent the poor majority of women, who they cannot understand or even visualise the problems that they have. So what use are these women? The issue of gender equality is a thorny one in our society. Feminists’ circles in Pakistan are mostly comprised of groups of elite women forming clubs where they sip tea and eat biscuits. These groups, most of the times are motivated by self aggrandisement instead of a genuine drive to win a fair deal for women folk. Most of these women drive their inspiration from their excursion trips to the western societies.
Gender equality in the west is more like a fair implementation of law than anything else. West gives equal legal rights to women, but at the same time puts equal legal and social responsibilities on their shoulders. On the other hand, there is no true representative image of Pakistani women; Pakistani women are one of the most privileged in the world, if they belong to middle, upper middle or upper ruling classes. These women have failed to pass any bills that could secure or improve women’s life in Pakistan.
The other side of the picture is horrific, women of poor class, women that live below poverty line, women that have no rights, no status in society, just live to die, who is representing them? They have no education or cable TV to find out what rights they have, they cannot read or write? There is no future for them or their children, the flock of privileged well connected women sitting in Assemblies can never be the genuine representatives of these marginalised classes; therefore this reserved seat representation is not authentic at all. If the idea is to create gender equality, then it must be understood that genders may be treated equally, may be compatible or complementary but can never be equal in our society.
MALIK ATIF MAHMOOD MAJOKA,
Australia, June 14.