'Under pressure': G-B govt cancels Women's Sports Gala, announces Meena Bazar instead

Claims that move comes after religious clergy protested against the sports event

The provincial government of Gilgit-Baltistan has changed the upcoming 'Women’s Sports Gala 2022'  to 'Women’s Meena Bazaar' on the directives of the chief minister of Gilgit Baltistan (G-B), the Chief Secretary’s Office announced on Wednesday.

Less than a week ago, the Chief Secretary’s Office had announced that “daughters” all over the region were preparing with great “excitement” for the upcoming sports event.

Just look at the excitement of our daughters. From Diamer to Shigar to Hunza to Kharmang, the preparation level for the Women Sports Gala has reached its peak.
Watch out! The girls are ready to come to Gilgit and prove their mettle in the field of sports. Best wishes for them! pic.twitter.com/VvkcMTjXat

— Office of the Chief Secretary, Gilgit Baltistan (@csgbpk) September 30, 2022

However, in the tweet, the G-B government was seen having a change of heart over its plans, as it announced that “the program will be conducted in accordance with Islamic values and local customs”.

وزیراعلیٰ گلگت بلتستان کی ہدایت پر ویمن اسپورٹس گالا۲۰۲۲ کو ویمنز مینا بازار میں تبدیل کیا جا رہا ہے۔ اس ایونٹ میں ذہنی بیداری کی سرگرمیاں ، منصوبوں کی نمائش ، دستکاری اور جواہرات کی نمائش اور خواتین کاروباری افراد کی دیگر کامیابیاں شامل ہوں گی۔ (1)

— Office of the Chief Secretary, Gilgit Baltistan (@csgbpk) October 4, 2022

According to the tweet, the event will now “include awareness activities, a showcase of projects, exhibition of handicrafts and jewellery and other achievements of women entrepreneurs” as well as “guidance and counselling on environmental and climate change issues” and “educational activities”.

وزیراعلیٰ گلگت بلتستان کی ہدایت پر ویمن اسپورٹس گالا۲۰۲۲ کو ویمنز مینا بازار میں تبدیل کیا جا رہا ہے۔ اس ایونٹ میں ذہنی بیداری کی سرگرمیاں ، منصوبوں کی نمائش ، دستکاری اور جواہرات کی نمائش اور خواتین کاروباری افراد کی دیگر کامیابیاں شامل ہوں گی۔ (1)

— Office of the Chief Secretary, Gilgit Baltistan (@csgbpk) October 4, 2022

مینا بازار میں ماحولیاتی اور آب و ہوا کی تبدیلی کے مسائل پر رہنمائی اور مشاورت شامل ہوگی۔ اس میں خواتین کی مختلف تعلیمی سرگرمیوں کو بھی پیش کیا جائے گا۔ مجموعی طور پر یہ پروگرام اسلامی اقدار اور مقامی رسم و رواج کے مطابق منعقد کیا جائے گا (2)

— Office of the Chief Secretary, Gilgit Baltistan (@csgbpk) October 4, 2022

جیسا کہ پہلے گزشتہ کئی سالوں سے ہوتا چلا آرہا ہے ۔ (3)

— Office of the Chief Secretary, Gilgit Baltistan (@csgbpk) October 4, 2022

The three-part tweet also asserted that the changed agenda of the program would not be a departure from tradition.

However, the news was not well-received by activists and progressive collectives that expressed concern over the development.

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National Women Front G-B, a progressive women’s collective from the region dubbed the government’s decision a matter of “shame”, adding that the women had been “wrong in trusting the state” as it called for a boycott of the “fear-driven” shift in the plan.

What a shame @csgbpk . We, the women of this region were so proud that first time in history any CS office seemed progressive towards women of this region, but we were wrong in trusting the state. We call for a boycott of this fear driven and gala-turned meena bazar. Shame!

— National Women Front GB (@WomenFrontGB) October 4, 2022

Claims surfaced on social media that the change in the program’s agenda was in fact the backdrop of protests held in Gilgit where some religious clergy had termed the event “unIslamic”.

Women Sports Gala 2022 stands canceled, and only a Meena Bazar will be held instaed.
No sports activity will therefore take place.
This comes in the backdrop of protests held in Gilgit on call from top religious leaders who termed participation of women in sports unislamic pic.twitter.com/XhKVtLb2ox

— ShabbirMir Shina (@ShabbirMir) October 4, 2022

Another activist and columnist affiliated with the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan in G-B said that the government had “surrendered before the pressure built by the local clergy” and lamented the state of women’s rights.

GB Govt. surrendered before the pressure built by local clergy. Women Sports Gala converted into women meena Bazar. Lamenting on the state of Women Rights in GB.

— israruddin israr (@israruddinisrar) October 5, 2022

Noorena Shams, a Pakistani sportsperson, in a tweet also condemned the move saying that "Meena bazaar and business fests happen every year. All you [the government] have done is that you let the narrow-minded win and your daughters lose."

مینا بازار اور بزنس فیسٹ ہر سال ہوتے ہیں۔ آپ نے صرف بند ذہنوں کو جیتنے دیا اور اپنی بیٹیوں کو ہارنے دیا۔ مایوسکُن اقدام۔ https://t.co/gkjSDOMzDl

— Noorena Shams (@noorenashams) October 5, 2022