Decision pending: Women participation presents conundrum for PTI
The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leadership is yet to decide whether to take the party’s women activists to their ‘Peace March’ to South Waziristan or not.
And it seems that the party’s women leadership stands divided over the issue.
Where one group headed by former provincial women wing president Begum Nassem Hayat deemed the participation of women in the rally against the cultural values of the tribal regions, another group headed by former information secretary of PTI’s women wing Esmat Khattak vowed to participate despite threats.
In a statement issued from the PTI’s media cell on Thursday, Hayat said that the party’s women activists from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) will not participate in the rally. She said the decision was taken keeping in view the social and cultural values of the area (Waziristan), where women’s participation in public gatherings was deemed inappropriate.
“We can spill our blood for the party, but cannot participate in the march due to cultural barriers,” she said.
However, when contacted, Khattak rejected the statement saying that women had the right to participate and demonstrate against drone attacks in the peace march.
“It will be unfortunate for us if we do not participate in the march for which women have come from foreign countries to take part,” she told The Express Tribune.
Sources said that the party’s provincial leadership had expressed opposition to women’s participation fearing that it could provoke the Taliban to carry out attacks on the caravan.
Meanwhile, PTI’s provincial convener Dr Mehar Taj Roghani said that the party’s women activists from K-P were eagerly waiting to get a green signal from the “high command” adding that there will be women participation from other provinces.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 5th, 2012.
COMMENTS (28)
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PTI is deeply divided at leadership level and they have further divided even the women wing where one group openly yels at another. this kind of immature approch will be destructive for PTI in the future. they need to be united at least on this issue. the old codes of honour should be broken long ago, even now it the chance for us to let these tribe know women are equal to men. not inferior in any way.
@curious:
Why not? Taliban our brethren according to Imran, what can go wrong? Unless he is giving us the wrong impression.
Readers' comments have made decision-making easy for PTI. The unanimous opinion is that women should participate in the peace march but in hijab and respecting the cultural values of the tribal regions. TTP have a golden opportunity to co-operate and set their record right. PTI + TTP + foreign (including US) and Pakistani participants is the key to a historic peace march leading to an end of US drone attacks. Regards.
PTI is fast degenerating into a Stand-up Comedy Club! Buhahahahahahahahha.
women should participate with hijjab.
I want to see if Imran can take on taleban and their right wing agenda for pakistan. I had decided to vote for PTI even if my family will vote for pml-n but will change my mind if Imran decides against women marching. We need women empowernment in these areas where women are really supressed. Taleban have destroyed so mnay girls school we need reforms in tribal area or else women there will suffer forever.
Women should not go into the war area. FULL STOP!
PTI zindabad.
If the PTI is so afraid of Taliban attacks, then why in the world are they marching against drones?
@Eeman: its not really safe for men either is it...
IK take the women along. Pied Piper lead all children out of Hamelin irrespective of their sex.
I wonder if its a cultural problem then France banning face covering veil is also right.
women- Achilles heel for Pakistani politics.
women must attend the peace march to show the world that 54% of the women population of pak is against the drone strikes.
“We can spill our blood for the party, but cannot participate in the march due to cultural barriers,”
Just read Ghosts of Huntington http://tribune.com.pk/story/446948/ghosts-of-huntington/ to see how Farrukh Khan Pitafi claims that there is only one civilization.
With the same reasoning you should leave your Hijab and Muslim faith in Pakistan when you enter western countries.
Here comes the reality check!!!
In Rome do as Romans Do, Women should not participate
I think as a female on a practical level at this time women should NOT attend this rally.
Had it not been such a hypocritical and dangerous statement, it would have classified as the dumbest and funniest of all political quotes put together !
I mean.. we are such a two faced people and society and such a violence loving nation where blood is so cheap and honour so valued that honour and culture always win over reason, logic and sanctity of human life.
A sad joke !
hahahahahaha.....
absolutely necessary for women to go with peace march!
Let us see the true face of PTI; if women are not allowed I will not vote for PTI
If women were allowed, during Prophet's (PBUH) time, to nurse the injured in the war zone then I believe the women should participate in the Peace March in Waziristan, provided the women are modestly covered and follow the norms/customs of the area.
Please the following:- 1. "Begum Nassem Hayat deemed the participation of women in the rally against the cultural values of the tribal regions", but "former information secretary of PTI’s women wing Esmat Khattak vowed to participate despite threats". Both the respected ladies are sincere but I suggest that women should participate, making sure that they are properly and gracefully covered like the women in Jamaat-e-Islami demonstrations. Imran Khan is requested to conact and consult Syed Munawar Hasan (JI) to resovlve the issue. Many women and chirlden hve been killed or injured in drone attacks therefore women and even children should be allowed to participate. 2. Hakimullah Mehsud (TTP) is requested to provide 100% security, food, lodging and support to IK and PTI and not repeat their previous mistakes. 3. Pakistan Army,Government and people must support PTI as much as possilble and not give statements like Minister Bashir Ahmad Bilour who has said that "the PTI peace march was a drama orchestrated at someone else’s behest". 4. We must stay united on this drone issue, not just vocally but practically. Regards.
Women should participate for sure. Tribal culture is not against women.