In countries like Pakistan, it is difficult for woman to participate in politics, earn the kind of respect Fauzia got.
ISLAMABAD: On November 14, 1956, Pakistan gave birth to a gutsy woman who stood up for what she believed in. She played a major role in empowering Pakistani women. She spread smiles with her wit and spoke out despite criticism. Throughout her life, Fauzia Wahab fought for democracy, human rights and women’s empowerment. Through sheer hard work and sincerity, she became the face of the PPP.
In countries like Pakistan, it is difficult for a woman to participate in politics and earn the kind of respect Fauzia got. Through her visible, as well as indirect, role as a PPP MNA and office-bearer, she accomplished milestone after milestone for women’s empowerment. She played a key role in a number of bills related to female empowerment. She never shied away from helping women who hailed from the lower and middle classes. Her efforts for making the quiet, oppressed Pakistani woman come out of her shell and ask for her due rights are commendable.
Fauzia upheld the liberal face of the PPP in the highly polarised and charged environment of Pakistan. She was extremely outspoken against the enemies of Pakistan. Not a single allegation of corruption was ever levelled against her. Our leadership lacks courage to speak the truth over the issues related to the war on terror. Fauzia openly debated those issues through the media and received death threats for speaking the truth whether it was the issue of Pakistan-US bilateral relations, the Raymond Davis issue or the issue of drones or the OBL killing — Fauzia always gave her honest opinions on these matters.
Fauzia Wahab died on June 17, 2012 in a private hospital in Karachi. She will be long remembered for her services to democracy, women’s empowerment, spreading the message of tolerance and supporting the war on terror. Her death was a big blow for Pakistan and the vacuum created will never be filled.
Dr Saifur Rehman
Published in The Express Tribune, November 14th, 2013.
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