The Shame of
It All
By Dr Shireen M Mazari
The deliberate
attack by the law-enforcement agencies on the participants
of the HRCP-JAC "mixed" marathon can only
be condemned as shameful and unacceptable –
especially the deliberate orders to tear the clothing
of the female leaders of the marathon. Obviously,
such actions do little to improve Pakistan's "soft"
image, but that is not my main concern here, although
that too is a serious issue in itself. Rather, what
is frightening is the level to which a woman can
be abused simply to assert the power of the state
and teach those who challenge it a "lesson".
Simply arresting and locking up the women leaders
was not seen as enough – their womanhood also
had to be assaulted. But all this to what end? Did
it really help the Pakistani state? It certainly
was no moment of pride for the Pakistani nation.
Of course, there are those who would respond by
pointing out that the marathon organizers chose
to defy the law because Section 144 was in force
in Lahore. The problem is that Section 144 seems
to have become a permanent feature of urban life,
and is the normal way to prevent all dissent from
surfacing publicly. Perhaps, had there been no physical
abuse of the participants, one would have faced
a real dilemma over whether the elites also need
to obey the law of the land or can they defy it
openly? We do have a society where the elite and
even their children grow up with a mindset that
makes them feel above the law. Whether it is speeding,
running traffic lights or even disobeying club rules,
the mocking attitude towards those trying to enforce
them reflects the diseased thinking of Pakistan's
elite.
But nothing, absolutely nothing, can justify the
abuse of power by the police and by those who issued
the instructions for them to do so. In fact, for
some time now we have been inundated with stories
in the print media, at least, of abuse of women
across the country. From burnings to rape to public
strippings, women seem to be fair game for all and
sundry – and across all levels of society.
It is no wonder then that certain segments of the
state also find it easy to target women.
Unfortunately, it is Pakistan as a whole that has
to suffer the fallout. We are seen as intolerant
– although we continue to show a marvelous
level of tolerance for abuse from outside –
and reactionary. And all manner of abuse is heaped
on us, from all quarters, from alleged allies to
foes. While nationals from Europe to India have
been involved in proliferation, it is Pakistan and
Dr. Khan that are being targeted. While the Karzai
regime is one of the closest allies of the US, with
hundreds of US soldiers and officials on its territory,
Afghan mobs opposing the alleged desecration of
the Holy Qur'an by US personnel in Guantanamo Bay
target the Pakistan Consulate in Jalalabad. And
so the story continues.
The Jalalabad incident reflects the animosity that
Afghans seemingly continue to harbor for Pakistanis
that has emerged at regular intervals in Afghan
history in the form of attacks against the Jalalabad
Consulate. And it does not really matter which government
is in Kabul, either. The fifties, sixties, eighties,
nineties are all replete with attacks against our
diplomatic set ups in Afghanistan. Ironically, Jalalabad
is primarily a Pakhtun town, but one which has always
had an Indian presence. Just a point to ponder.
Coming back to the issue at hand, it is really time
for the government to come out and take a stand
against the obscurantist behavior that allows elements
of the state to indulge in violence against women.
As long as these retrogressive forces continue to
humiliate women under the protection of the state,
the state itself is undermining the spirit of Islam
and the status, as we have been taught, Islam affords
women. Mixed marathons in themselves are non-issues
but after the Gujranwala incident, they have become
an issue because they symbolize a challenge to the
obscurantists who are seeking to implement their
agendas indirectly through terrorization. The planned
marathon in Lahore, which ended in the shameful
and unforgivable abuse of the women participants,
was meant to highlight violence against women in
the country. Well it certainly managed to do that,
thanks to the absurdities of segments of the state.
This is truly unfortunate, because the Pakistani
state along with society has continued to provide
greater space for women. We have women working in
ever-widening professional fields. We have young
girls working in fast food and other restaurants
in the major cities – something that was unthinkable
barely a decade earlier. Women are now even in the
forces and the PAF has taken the lead by opening
its fighter pilot and engineering fields to women.
Even many Western countries do not allow this. PIA
has had women pilots for over a decade now. Women
judges and lawyers now proliferate and the admirable
Asma and Hina Jillani have come into their own through
the legal profession to gain accolades from the
international community for their dedication to
human rights. While one can have serious disagreements,
as I do, with Asma on most issues, no one can ever
doubt her commitment to human rights. In fact, tolerance
on all sides is borne out of conflicting perspectives.
That is why our state does itself a great injustice
when it undermines its own achievements by an unnecessary
hesitancy to acknowledge its commitment to tolerance
and enlightenment. It needs to accept this role
and deal aggressively with those fifth columnists
within its structures who seem to be deliberately
undermining state credibility. It is time we stopped
the battering of the Pakistani state and its leadership
by a few vested interests. A beginning needs to
be made with publicly penalizing those responsible
for the Lahore attack against the HRCP-JAC marathon
last week. The backtracking on tactical issues is
undermining the strategic policy of enlightenment
and tolerance.
Whether it is the religion column issue in the passport
or the "honor killing" issue, or the increasing
violence against women, the state needs to be proactive
and unapologetic in its commitment to progress and
development. While the law of the land cannot be
violated at will, no law can advocate physical abuse
of women. It is time the supposed upholders and
enforcers of the law understand this in no uncertain
terms. Enlightenment means moderation and the leadership
of this country, which has made a resolute commitment
to this, needs to make this pledge credible through
deeds – not words alone.
(The writer is Director General of the Institute
of Strategic Studies, Islamabad. Courtesy The News)
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