Pakistan in the Past
Before IndependenceBefore Pakistan's independence in 1947, women of Pakistan were forced to observed purdah -- a practice which involves female seclusion, where the men were prevented from seeing women. The women were often physically separated from men and wear cloth to cover their skin.
Syred Ahmad Khan was a reformer of a movement to empower women of the South Asian Muslim community. In the 1870s, he attempted to empower women by calling for the Mohammedan educational conference to bring modern education to women. He also founded a college which conducted cooking and sewing classes in an Islamic framework, for women. Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the president of Pakistan, valued empowering women as independence neared. He gave a speech in 1944, just before independence: "No nation can rise to the height of glory unless your women are side by side with you ; we are victims of evil customs. It is a crime against humanity that our women are shut up within the four walls of the houses as prisoners. There is no sanction anywhere for the deplorable condition in which our women have to live." Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto's Regime (1973-1977)Under the regime of the elected leader Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, females had better treatment as policies such as government services (for eg. District management and foreign service) opened up to them. Women were also provided with approximately 10% of seats in National Assembly and 5% in provincial assemblies.
However, due to the Indo-Pakistani war of 1971, which is the confrontation between India and Pakistan during the Bangladesh liberation war, the country suffered financially and thus, lead to the split in Pakistan -- forming east and west Pakistan. In 1973, in the Constitution of Pakistan, an agreement of gender equality was promised. This includes the protection of marriage, family mother and child etc. However, the Islamic parties were against his idea of fair treatment between men and women. Benazir Bhutto Government (1988-1990)In 1988, the first female Prime Minister of Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto was elected. She made plans to set up police stations, courts and banks for women and to improve the treatment and healthcare of women. She also promised to review the Hudood Ordinance and Zial-ul-Haq’s Islamization laws. However, she did not propose any improvement of social welfare for the women.
In 1989, 5 universities in Islambad, Karachu, Quette, Peshawar and Lahore, had Women’s Studies centres. 4 of such centres shut down due to lack of support, both financially and administrative. The First Women Back Ltd. was also established to address the women’s development financial needs by providing schemes for disadvantaged women and aim to improve female’s welfare needs. |
After IndependenceIn the mid 1940s till after Pakistan's independence, Muhammad Fatima Jinnah formed organizations to counter against social injustices faced by women. Such movements were supported by Muslim female leaders, wives and other relatives of leading politicians. For example, their support led to the restoration of the Muslim personal Law of Sharia in 1948 -- which allowed women to have the right to inherit her property, which was initially lost.
In 1947, under the Pakistan (creation of Pakistan) ordinance, suffrage was granted to Pakistani women. Suffrage is the right to vote and therefore, women could vote in the national elections in 1956 under interim Constitution. The parliament also provided reserved seats for women from 1956 to 1973. Zia-ul-Haq's Military Regime (1977-1986)In July 1977, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was overthrown in a military coup by the then Army chief of staff, General Zia ul-Haq. Under his regime, a Women’s division in Cabinet Secretariat was established, appointing another commission on the Status of Women. To improve women’s status, 28 professional women, lead by Syeda Abida Hussain, worked on the chapter on women in development for the Sixth Plan. In 1985, the reserved seats for women in the National Assembly doubled to 20%.
However, although women were given a boost under his rule, Zia-ul-Haq’s islamization came across as anti-women as he introduced many changes such as the Hudood Ordinances and Qanun-e-Shahadat Order (Law of Evidence Order). [See Laws and Policies]. As a result of the new laws and policies implemented, rape and adultery weren't distinguished properly and women were discouraged to report cases of rape as they would still end up punished. In Septemeber 1981, the first full-fledged national women’s movement in Pakistan, also known as the Women’s Action Forum (WAF), was launched by women to protest against the policies implemented. Thus, 1986, sections which discriminated against women of Hudood Ordinance was revised through once more. Nawaz Sharif Government (1997-1999)In 1997, Nawaz Sharif became Prime Minister. Under him, the government formally implemented the Qisas and Diyat Ordinance, establishing changes based on Sharia for Pakistan’s criminal laws.
He then changed the Constitution to replace the legal system with an islamic one. Such proposal was approved by National Assembly, but was opposed by women’s group, human right activists and opposing political parties. They demanded for changes to be made to the Hudood Ordinance as it discriminates against women, and promotes gender inequality. Pervez Musharraf's regime (2001-2008)Under Pervez Musharraff, he made amendments to the Hudood Ordinances. Consensus between his government and the Law Ministry and the Council of Islamic Ideology were built in response to changes made to the laws. On 7 July, 2006, an ordinance was signed by General Musharaff to bail the 1300 women in jail charged for terrorism and murder.
In late 2006, the Women’s Protection Bill was passed in National Assembly. The bill involve more evidences such as DNA, to be used to testify against cases. However, Islamic radicals and organisations opposed to such a revised bill becoming the law. The Protection of Women Act was also passed in 2006 as women cadets from Military Academy Kukul guarded the mausoleum of Muhammad Ali Jinnah. thus allowing women to have more jobs. |