International Women’s day on March 8 was intended to commemorate and reflect upon the struggles made by determined women for getting heard and recognized.
With the theme for Women’s Day 2020 as “I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights”, the day had been celebrated across the globe for bringing together people of every gender, age, ethnicity, race, religion and country.
Pakistan, with a population of around 50 percent women, is a country which ranks at 151 out of total 153 countries on Global Gender Gap Index 2020.
Despite the efforts of gender mainstreaming by government, civil society organizations and CSR funds of various corporates, Pakistan has drastically slipped from its position of 112 in 2006 to 151 in 2020.
Post media brawl between Kahlil ur Rehman Qamar & Marvi Sarmad and throwing out of petition against Aurat March by the courts, this year’s Women’s Day became more significant for Pakistani women.
However, discourses reveal that the day became victim to more of a confrontation between left and right wings of the country. The day was celebrated as more of a platform to showcase the eternal differences between patriarchy and feminism.
To oppose Aurat March’s theme of the year ‘Mera Jism Meri Marzi (my body my choice)’, the opponents like JUI, Jamia Hafsa, Jamaat-e-Islami, Lal Masjid and female students representing various religious seminaries celebrated the day as ‘ Haya March’.
Members of specific groups photoshopped each other’s posters while others faced digital aftermath of blame game (read online harassment) for having the difference of opinion or more precisely, the difference of approach in the attainment of rights.
For me, the country experienced one of the most vivid examples of oxymorons, where both leftist and rightist groups ultimately claimed to be representing the issues of Pakistani women, thus leaving the masses confused who to stand with.
This battle (mainly the media war and exchange of social media posts) is, however, gratifying for the supporters of each side. Conversely, this also urges the common people in general and women in the particular to contemplate on the actual issues of Pakistani ladies and then reflect over the fact that who actually is putting its due share to take actions.
Seeing an elderly lady on wheelchair from Aurat March holding a poster saying “Islam Nay Haqooq Diay Aur Ap Nay?” (Islam granted rights but did you too?) in my newsfeed and finding out that FIR has been lodged for rape of a 9-year old girl at Tando Allah Yar, Sindh on international Women’s Day, is making me think that who is at loss between this encounter of left and right wings.
Prime Minister Imran Khan in his message on Women’s Day said: “The observance of International Women’s Day today is a reiteration of our commitment to undertake every possible effort to ensure equal rights and opportunities to our women. In this effort, we are guided by the teachings of our religion, the Seerat of Holy Prophet (PBUH) and the core values that distinguish our society.”
Remembering his words is making me wonder about the future of march (both Haya as well as Aurat) when the tussle is ignoring the commons and it seems more focused on proving the other one wrong.
The least I can predict is that a day’s long march holding multi-colour placards is never going to end grassroots level problems of Pakistani women unless they are backed up by clear policies, transparent implementation and strong monitoring followed by course corrective measures.
It is time to start taking practical steps to improve the status of women which would ultimately be reflected in the Gender Gap Index Reports of years to come.
Also Read: The War Within: Local Conflicts
