In case you have not noticed on the sidebar on the right, ATP has a new feature. An ATP opinion poll for our readers and visitors. The question is about what can be done to improve Paksitan’s international image in terms of women rights.
I must confess, even though this is my question it bothers me a bit. Maybe, a better question might have been about what can be done to improve the condition of women’s rights in Pakistan. However, there are three reasons why I chose this question. First, the 
powers that be seem to be very concerned about Pakistan’s image these days, so why not give them the benefit of our advice. Second, some folks seem convinced that this blog is about Pakistan’s image; it really is not, but lets play along. Third, a lot of our readers are quite perturbed about the image question as various comments have shown, most recently in relation to the ATP post about the Dawn ad. So, OK, lets be positive and think about what ought to be done. Over to you!
The Question: Which of the following will do most to improve Pakistan’s international image in terms of women’s rights?
1. Publicize positive news about women pilots, professional women, etc.
2. Highlight how Islam gives a lot of rights to women
3. Vigorously defend against mis-reporting on women’s rights in Pakistan
4. Write and complain to media outlets that propagate negative stereotypes
5. Launch a ‘charm offensive’ on ‘softer side’ of Pakistan (cultural shows, fashion shows, etc.)
6. Change behavior of Pakistani men towards women though educational campaign in Pakistan
7. Repeal Hudood Ordinance and other laws that restrict women rights
You can get to the polling area by clicking on the responses in the sidebar, or directly by clicking here.
I know you are all more tech savvy than me and could skew the results by voting multiple times if you wanted to. I hope you won’t (it would be dishonest, unfair, and it will devastate my faith in our potential for real democracy). But if you do want to influence the results, please, by all means ask your friends to also vote!
I like the idea of this poll because it focusses on what can be done. That is what we should focus on-how to make things better
Sharmeen I had a similar interaction with one of the feudal lord of the area where Mukhtar Mai lives and he was mad about the role of NGOs and media. He had the same derogatory remarks about her. Infact, her courage and determination have challenged the traditional paradigm of power imbalance prevalent in our society. Even graduate parliamentarian in Sindh Assembly sent an “indecent note” to his female colleague http://www.dawn.com/2006/06/22/top7.htm
Unfortunately, we dont have any Sexual Harassment Policy at Work Place in our governmenet departments and even in private sector. We are not gender streamlined nation at any level. We need to deal with “patriarchy” at every level as it is the root cause to distort our image.
By the way “Parliament to discuss Hudood law next month” http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id= 1952
Last year while filming a documentary in Pakistan, i had a rather interesting encounter with an Army officer. In discussing women’s rights, Mukhtar Mai’s name came up (i had spent the day with her and was telling him how much i respected her guts) The Officer looked at me and said, well shes a prostitute madam and she deserved what she got. I almost died, had i not been desperate for an interview i would have given him a piece of my mind…
In his warped mind, Mukhtar Mai had sex with men regularly and he didnt understand why the world was making such a big deal about it…So some men forced themselves upon her without paying her money, so what…? She deserved it!
Women who make a hue and cry about rape are doing it for fame, (funny, how i remember our President saying that to the Washington Post too!)…
Its true that women in Pakistan enjoy far more rights than women in countries like Saudi Arabia, but the general perception that women are disposable that they are second class citizens exists in the mind of a large majority of men in Pakistan and very little is being done to change that mentality.
The following news item comes from this morning Dawn (7/12/06). Not sure what logic is used to justify this law and on what grounds do you reject the bill. But this shows that we have to go a long way beofre we can improve Pakistan’s image, especially as it relates to women’s rights.
DAWN – 7/12/06 Bill to relax citizenship rules rejected
By Our Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, July 11: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior Affairs on Tuesday rejected a bill to simplify rules for granting citizenship to foreign nationals married to Pakistani women, member of the committee Nayyar Bokhari said.
The committee headed by Sardar Talib Nakkai rejected the proposal presented by a ruling party member, Ms Mehnaz Rafi.
The bill was also opposed by the some members of the ruling party, including Akram Bhindar. Those who opposed the bill included Liaquat Baloch and Nayyar Bokhari.
According to the government policy, any foreign woman who marries a Pakistani man can get Pakistani nationality on specified terms and conditions while a foreign man marrying a Pakistani woman cannot become a Pakistani citizen.
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