Does Pakistani society regard woman as the angel in the house or source of all evils?

OUTLINE

o INTRODUCTION

o HISTRORICAL PERSPECTIVE

o PRE INDEPENDENCNE

o POST INDEPENDENCE

o AYOUB REGIME
o Z.A. BHATTU REGIME
o ZIAL UL HAQ REGIME
o BANZIR BHATTU REGIME
o NAWAZ SHARIEF REGIME
o PARVAIZ MUSHARRAF REGIME
o ASIF ALI ZARDARI GOVERNMENT

o CRIMES AGAINST WOMAN

o SEXUAL VIOLENCE
o TRAFFIKING
o DOWRY ABUSE
o DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
o ACID ATTACKS

o STRATEGIES FOR CHANGE

o EDUCATION
o ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
o ROLE OF GOVERNMENT
o MEDIA
o ROLE OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS


o CONCLUSION











INTRODUCTION

There is no denying the fact that woman in Pakistan society is limited with in the four walls of home, may be like an angle, but she has no rights and status. With in home she is treated like obeying slave. In some section of Pakistani society woman is really considered as an inferior creature.

Woman in Pakistani society, socially, economically, morally depends on family, particularly on male members. She is totally deprived of all basic needs of life; she has no rights of education, inheritance and economic well being.

With in the four walls of home she has no power in decision making process even decisions related to her own life. She has to obey and follow the instructions of her father, brother and husband.

To better understand the scenario of woman’s position in Pakistani society, it is necessary to have glance through the historical perspectives



HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

PRE INDEPENDENCE

Before independence particularly during struggle movement for Pakistan women were encouraged to take participation in every sphere of life, in this regard Jinnah whole heartedly welcomed women to come out of four walls of home and enjoin the struggle movement.
Certainly due to low rate of literacy and less opportunities of economic empowerment overall position of women was limited with in the four walls of home.


POST INDEPENDENCE

After the demise of Jinnah, and due to political turmoil women over all status and position went down.

Successive governments did not act practically to uplift women position and make them equal citizen educationally, economically, socially, morally and politically.


AYOUB REGIME

Ayoub regime (1958 to 1969 ) was considered as developed era, but for women it was not much satisfactory. Ayoub could not bring any reforms for the enhancement of women. Rural women were altogether deprived socially and educationally. Women participated in 1956 election but after that they had not given any chance of political empowerment.

Z.A BHATTU REGIME

Z.A Bhattu regime ( 1971 to 1977) was the liberal period for women particularly. First time women were allowed to join DMJ (District management group) and Foreign Service in Civil Services. First women development Bank was established in this era for the economic well being of the women.
In rural sector women empowerment strategies were initiated in order to bring reforms in rural women,

ZIA UL HAQ REGIME

Zial Ul Haq ( 1977 to 1988) was the bleak era for the women. Owing to the radical and fundamentalist attitude of Zia towards Islamization. Hudood Ordinance in 1979 was the most critical and cruel law against women. Women had to suffer a lot of troubles socially and morally. Despite of this, women were restricted to have co education and co working. As a consequence of this, several other criminal acts were subjected to women.

BANZIR BHATTU REGIME

NAWAZ SHARIEF REGIME

PARVAIZ MUSHARRAF REGIME

ASIF ALI ZARDARI REFIME


CRIMES AGAINST WOMAN

Despite of successive governments’ initiatives and announcements women overall position in Pakistan society remained in moral degradation. In Pakistan society majority of women face s lot of tortures in the hands of family members particularly male.
This fact is no more shrouded in mystery that Pakistani society is male dominated society as a result of this women have to suffer a lot of dilemmas even with in the four walls of home.
Following are the major forms of crimes, which women face on daily bases

SEXUAL VIOLENCE

This is the worst form of violence in Pakistani society, which, women have to bear. Sexual violence is the gangrene against the humanity and it is crime against basic human rights.
In Pakistani society cases of sexual violence occur in home, office, streets and work places on daily bases.
Women working in offices and other’s homes are the most vulnerable victim of sexual violence.
Events of sexual violence against women are on rise without any check and balance by the concerned authorities

TRAFFIKING

In Pakistani society the menace of trafficking of women is increasing day by day. In big cities of Pakistan women are brought and sold like chattels. It has been reported by media that local poor and economically deprived women are the most vulnerable to the menace of trafficking.

DOWRY ABUSE

Pakistani society in spite of being Islamic in nature is in the grip of mal adaptive custom of dowry. If poor bride does not bring sufficient dowry from her parents then she has to go through mal treatment by her husband and by her in laws.
Now days in Pakistani society the cases of dowry abuse against brides and married women are on rise. Some time bride is beaten or burning alive to death without any case and complain.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Very dismay to say that domestic violence in Pakistani society against poor women particularly in rural areas is the humiliated crime. Domestic violence includes beating, burning and killing on the bases of baseless charges are the matter of grave concern for the women in male dominated society.

ACID ATTACKS.



STRATEGIES FOR CHANGE

EDUCATION

In Pakistani society woman is restricted with in the four walls of home. Her over all position and status as citizen of Pakistan really is in danger. And the only way of her enhancement lies in education.
It is the primary responsibility of the state to provide education to its citizens particularly deprived women.

In this regard Constitution of Pakistan has clearly stated that,

“State of Pakistan shall remove illiteracy….. and provide free and compulsory education with in the minimum possible period of time”
Article 37 (b)




ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

In Pakistani society woman, economically and socially is under the hegemony of man. She is totally depends on her family, as a repercussion of this she has to follow and bear every violence with calm and silence.
In this regard, as equal citizen of Pakistan she is entitles to have social and economic empowerment, which are need rather than choice.
It is necessary for women to have access towards economic and social opportunities of life. In this regard, non governmental organizations and feminist organizations should come forward and enhance women towards economic and social empowerment.




ROLE OF MEDIA


ROLE OF GOVERNMENT


ROLE OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS

Pakistani society is the Islamic society, what ever injustice happens with woman is because of the misinterpretation of Islam. People think that what ever (crimes) they are doing is in accordance with the teachings of Islam, that misinterpretation leads people towards mal treatment deprivation of woman.
Now it is the primary responsibility of Ulemas to come forward and disseminate the real picture of Islam regarding woman’s role and position.

Holy Quran clearly states that

“O mankind. be careful to your duties towards your LORD, Who created you from single soul, from it created its mate. Most honored of you in the sight of God is the one who is best in his conducts”

( Surah 4, ayaat no 1 )

This verse of Holy Quran makes it clear that man and woman have same origin and same status and have equal rewards for their deeds. So Ulema should spread this message of Islam among the people.


CONCLUSION

In Pakistani society woman is really considered as an inferior creature, she is confined with in the four walls of home like a servant, who has to obey every command and direction. While, from religious as well as constitutional point of view she is entitled to have access towards social, economical, political and moral development as an equal citizen of Pakistan. Our founder Quaid e Aazam has given us the direction. He said,

“No nation can rise to the heights of glory, unless your women are side by side with you”

Quaid e Aazm while addressing the audience at Aligrah University, in 1946