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| Do Hina & Sherry represent change in Pakistan? | | | When Hina Rabbani Khar was appointed foreign minister did it speak of winds of change blowing across Pakistan ?And when Sherry Rehman was picked up by Islamabad to be the country's envoy in Washington did it indicate that the establishment in Pakistan is no longer biasd against the fair sex ?Well these two appointments indicate change in the outlook of PPP led Government towards women.If there is a slight change it is appreciable because of the track record not only in Pakistan but in other Islamic countries where repression and oppression on women has remained a permanent feature of political and social life.Compared to India the incidence of repression on women in the shape of rapes,extortion,maltreatment,divorces and torture, in Pakistan is much higher.There are a number of areas in Pakistan,including Baluchistan,NWFP,Waziristan and other tribal areas where women are not permitted to study in schools and colleges.Female education in these areas is banned and those who dare to oppose the rule they are subjected to either physical assaults or are tortured even to death.No doubt after Benazir Bhutto became the first woman to get elected as Prime Minister of Pakistan it encouraged women to come forward and join politics after going in for higher studies.
But Benazir's elevaion to the post of Prime Minister failed to end repression and oppression in Pakistan.Her becoming the Prime Minister did not change the male outlook about women in the NFWP,Baluchistan,Waziristan and other areas.In certain areas the male dominated society has strictly followed the old adage "man for the field and women for the hearth."Any woman trying to break this rule either loses honour or life.Hence appointment of Hina Khar as Foreign Minister and Sherry Rehman as ambassador to US seems to be a refreshing news.If this had happened in India it would have hardly created ripples in the political and and administrative circles.When Nirupama Rao,a former foreign secretary,was sent as India's ambassador to Washington it was not treated as something unusual because right from Nehru's sister Vijay Laxmi Pandit down to Nirupama Rao there have been a large number of women in the IAS,IPS and the IFS.
Well appointment of Hina Rabbani Khar as foreign minister and Sherry Rehman as Ambassador to the US should not be treated as something warranting joy and happiness because one swallow does not make a summer.Hina and Sherry alone cannot represent women emanicipation and empowerment in Pakistan.So long parts of Pakistan remain under the sway of fundamentalists,terrorists belonging to the Taliban and Al Qaeda,there can be no relief for women who are subjected to worst form of repression and oppression.But Hina's and Sherry's appointment does indicate winds of change blowing softly and gradually in Pakistan.If not anything else Hina,who is 34 years old,and Sherry,who is 50,can electrify the political and social atmosphere in Pakistan.They can act as ambassadors of change in Pakistan,who is a major Islamic nation having become a nuclear power.After all both Hina and Sherry have a face that can "burn the topless towers" of Pakistan.Pakistan can be in for a major change as far as women liberation is concerned provided fundamentalists and terrorist are tamed and more and more women are allowed to occupy senior posts in the country's administrative and political spheres.Both Sherry and Hina's ability to deliver better than their male counterparts will be seen if Pakistan and the United States reduce the existing trust deficit level. |
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