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!
The results as they emerge are interesting, while anonymity is important, I wonder if there is a way to differentiate the results on whether they are coming frm men or women, specially on No. 6.
Dear Adnan, I am sure Roshan Malik will own response, but why the anger? I do not see him calling anyone a ‘saint’. He does not even mention Shazia Murree. He seems simply making a point about the need for having sexual harrassment policy. The legislators who beat up the MPA, I believe they were from all parties (ruling and opposition) and what they did was wrong; goes to show again how patriarchy (Malik’s point) works and the male ‘ghairat’ becomes more important than what may or may not have happened to the woman.
@Roshan Malik: it is very ficitious that you declare Shazia Murree as a *saint*.Speaking of rights,did you condemn the way those PPP members who hit the guy back?
What is needed in the long term is a major change in MALE behavior. But immediately, the repeal of the Hudood ordinance will send the right signals domenstically and internationally. I am not sure how highlighting the rights Islam gives helps anyone, espeically when we do not see those rights being practiced, except through negative laws like the Hudood ordinance.
Great poll….I would actually go for all of the things listed. All of my family voted for “Highlight how Islam gives a lot of rights to women”. I come from a 2 income family and know the struggles women go through while working in Pakistan. My mother worked for PIA for 27 years and was very political, well she had to get into Unions in order to get her due rights but was denied most promotions that her male collegues enjoyed.
Educate! Educate! Educate! That’s all there is to it. Laws can be made and changed, but if personal behaviors and social norms don’t there is no point in changing laws, i sthere? The education has to start at home (and men have to set the example), but it must then extend to schools. If we pay so much attention to so-called Pakistan Studies (for those of us who endured the Zia-era brainwashing in schools), why not teach something more important – and universal. While many would argue that we must highlight Islam and the rights of women, respect and equality are universal values, not just Islamic.
Just the same week Pakistani lawmakers rejected allowing foreign men married to Pakistani women the right to Pakistani citizenship, the Indonesian parliament changed the law to allow just that.
HJ