Women’s Day

Pakistani women have united for their rights – and united pretty firmly and earnestly. The turnout at the Aurat March – an event that marks the International Women’s Day in Pakistan on March 8 – is growing every year. Not just that, the event that was first organised in Karachi in 2018 has now gained traction in more and more cities of the country – including Multan, Faisalabad, Larkana, and Hyderabad, apart from bigger ones like Lahore and Islamabad – where women from diverse social, ethnic and economic backgrounds are coming out in droves and saying yes to the call for female rights. Another measure of the women’s message getting across successfully is a significant number of men – the beneficiary of the patriarchal status quo – coming out in support of the Aurat March whose theme this year was ‘Patriarchy ka Pandemic’.

While the International Women’s Day was first observed in early 20th century – dedicated to women’s right to franchise which the German women did not earn until 1918 – the struggle of Pakistani women for their rights dates back to the dictatorial times of Gen Ziaul Haq. It were the regressive, women-centric legislations under the Zia regime that triggered some brave women leaders into action that did not die down even though there was little success. It is indeed much to do with the ground work done then despite a worst kind of repression that the women today find themselves in a position to bond together for their rights and can actually see light at the end of the long, dark tunnel.

The passion, the seriousness and the numbers show that there can be no going back on women’s struggle for their rights. While women have indeed come a long way on the path to rights, they have still to go a long way. Legislation for the rights is achievable – especially with 33 per cent women representation in parliament – but changing the societal mindset is the main challenge. But, women – well, many a man too – look prepared for that.