Women Empowerment....A Path towards a better Pakistan!

The standard of the morality of a nation or a society is the way it treats its women. Women are a vital and essential segment of any society and without their unhindered participation in all areas; no nation can make advancement towards its goals of economic, political and moral progress or aim to earn a respectable place in the comity of nations. That perhaps is the yardstick by which the difference between the developed and the developing nations is assessed.

Women are an important element of a country’s population and their contribution is equally important as of men and to make them active participants of development, there is a need of proper initiatives.

Women empowerment is a phenomenal issue and it is globally recognized fact that the third-world countries are the top-ranked countries having laws & taboos which describe women much lower in social and economic spheres; thus restricting women’s due and legal rights.

Looking at the situation of Pakistan, and its heavily populated rural areas, the practice of male dominancy is well-accepted & unchallenged fact. This has obstructed women growth, development and empowerment in countless ways. Women in Pakistan have very limited participation in the economic sphere of life. Female have less participation in labor force and most of the women are unpaid workers in the agricultural settings of country. More over most women in Pakistan are engaged in informal settings of work. Very small percentage of women is employed in government sector. Employment quota is also not satisfactory and because of that, women economic activity is not well structured.

Although, Pakistani women have struggled for the equality of rights but in a male dominating society not many think about providing equal gender rights to women.  There are many reported and unreported cases where women didn’t receive justice they deserved. Either it’s an honor killing or marriage to Quran, domestic violence or harassment at work place; women of Pakistan were never provided with a proper platform where they can fight for their rights. MQM (Mutahida Qaumi Movement), the third largest political party of Pakistan, is the only party who always stand up for the women rights among all political parties.

MQM focuses on gender equality and women’s empowerment not only as human rights, but they are one of the most liberal organizations of Pakistan who advocates women empowerment.  Though, other political parties have women as representatives in national and provincial assembly but MQM is the only party who features one of the largest ratios of women in the parliament of Pakistan. They fully supported the amendment of Women protection act in 2007, the most brutal laws against women promulgated during the military dictator Zia’s period, which are now not part of the amended constitution and protection against harassment of women at workplace Act in 2010 which introduced new laws for the safety of women at the work-places against all kinds of the harassment.

 MQM has successfully adopted the motto of Qaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah who attributed women empowerment as essence of development and progress of any society and UN Women who is a dynamic and strong champion for women, providing them with a powerful voice at the global, regional, and local levels.  First time in Pakistan’s history, a political party is organizing a grand meeting to raise voice for women’s rights on Feb 19^th, 2012 at Bagh-e-Qaid-e-Azam, Karachi.

Women empowerment is the key to Pakistan’s future growth and productivity. As they say that a woman is the full circle.  Within her is the power to create, nurture and transform!

Tunisia, Egypt and now Yemen; what are we waiting for?

“Bread, Liberty, Dignity” and “We will follow Tunisia”, these chants are all over the place in Egypt now a days when the country is on verge of revolution.  I was startled the way revolution bechanced in Tunisia within days and now the Egyptians are going forward in same direction.  I was following the happenings very closely in Tunisia and it reminds me of a saying by JFK. He once said,

  

“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible, make violent revolution inevitable" 

All the time a question was pounding in my head that what actually triggered this revolution in Tunisia and I got my answer when I read the interview of Dr. Azzam Tamimi, an author and political analyst.  In reply to the question that what he see when he look at what has been happening over the past few weeks in Tunisia, he said,

“I think it is the question of threshold. For such a revolution to take place, the anger within people has to reach a certain threshold and I think in Tunisia it has reached that threshold, because none of us could tell. For many years we were wishing this to happen, but it happened without us even knowing.”

This is exactly what happened in Tunisia when Mohamed Bouazizi burned himself to death in protest because he didn’t have money to bribe and was humiliated by a female police officer who slapped him and threw away his produce cart. He was the only earner of the family. What kind of repression do you imagine it takes for a 26 years old to do this? He did go to the governor’s office to complain but was refused by the governor to see or listen to him even after his saying that “If you don’t see me, I will burn myself”.    , Egypt is almost there as the people are enduring the same problems and after the revolution of Tunisia their hopes are rising and I loved the words an Egyptian protester in a rally said to a news channel. He said that

"We will not be silenced, whether you are a Christian, whether you are a Muslim, whether you are an atheist, you'll demand your god damn rights ..and we'll have our all rights ...one way or the other"

Anti-government protesters clashed with the riot police in the center of Cairo

  If we look at the reasons, the common thing everywhere is poverty, unemployment, corruption and a total freeze of political dynamics; just like the political system has failed completely and the people everywhere felt humiliated. Isn’t it felt like I am talking about the issues in our country?? We deal with these problems on day to day basis in Pakistan and although we have so called democratic government, for me its not dandier then dictatorship.  I ascertain the similar issues all over my country then why we are not next in line? Why we only sit back in our couches, watch these events on TV, praise these people and then carry on with our life?  Is our conscious is dead or we are cowards who feel that we cannot bring a change!   Why we don’t want to fight for our rights, the same rights which are written in our constitution and still we are unable to use.

Revolution doesn’t need years of struggle and hardships.  It can happen within days as we already witnessed in Tunisia.  The only thing we need is a push from a sincere leadership.  We need to break our emotional attachments with the political parties.  I can’t say this for sure about the older generation but our youth is capable of stand up for their rights as Abraham Lincoln once said that

 “Any people anywhere, being inclined and having the power, have the right to rise up, and shake off the existing government, and form a new one that suits them better. This is a most valuable - a most sacred right - a right, which we hope and believe, is to liberate the world.”

All we require is faith in ourselves. In Yemen its already begin, Jordan and Algeria are next then why not us? What are we waiting for????

Reko Diq......A ray of hope for the Nation's survival

Corruption remains a substantial hurdle for our country where it is still comprehended to be far-flung and systemic. From top level to the bottom, widespread financial and political corruption, nepotism, and misuse of power is apparent and manifest in society. From last few months, we the people of Pakistan are so engrossed in political changes and happenings or I should say that we were being captivated deliberately to keep us distracted from what is going on in Baluchistan and  behind the doors at President House in Islamabad.  

During my research on mineral and natural resources of Pakistan, I came across with the case of the mineral resources at "Reko Diq" and I was stunned that the picture that egresses is so muddy and mind boggling that any ordinary soul just cannot fathom what is going on. Renowned journalist Mr. Shaheen Sehbai was the first person who lifted the curtain up from this Scandal and brought it in limelight. Currently he is Group Editor of "The News” and a well known and respectable member of Journalism society.  In order to develop a better understanding and complexity of the the issue, I would like to narrow down some basic information about the resources at "Reko Diq" that I found in his detailed report.

He mentioned in his report that 

"Reko Diq" is a large copper-gold porphyry mineral deposit on the Tethyan belt, located in southwest Pakistan in the province of Baluchistan. As Pakistan has limited resources, the license for exploration was first given to an Australian mineral exploration firm in 1993 who invested around $30 million and the government of Baluchistan entered into an agreement with the Australian company BHP Billiton according to which 75% shares will belong to them and 25% will go to Baluchistan government with federal government has no share at all. In 2006 BHP  Billiton sold the company to a Canadian and Chilean joint venture for $230 million. The new company was named Tethyan Copper Company (TCC) of Pakistan. In Musharraf era, two licenses (EL-6 and EL-8) for exploration were given on a 100 per cent ownership basis to these foreign firms, with Pakistan (or Baluchistan) having no share at all.  TCC has completed their feasibility report last year and claimed that the feasibility study and social and environmental analysis cost is $250 million while the overall estimate of the project $3.3 billion will be spent in the next 56 years. 

Mr. Sehbai also mentioned that

The Pakistanis were never told the exact size of the gold and copper deposits that were found by these foreigners. Even until July this year, when a top level delegation of the Canadian company led by Aaron Regent met Prime Minister Gilani in Islamabad, the PM was told that 2.2 billion pounds of copper (10 million tons) and 13 million oz of gold will be extracted and development of this mega project shall generate a revenue of only about $3.5 billion for Government of Pakistan and $4.5 billion for Government of Baluchistan over 40 years. But the Canadian company has to report the real value to its own Canadian government agencies every year and on December 31, 2008 it informed these agencies, and its shareholders, that its 37.5 per cent share in Reko Diq would yield 17 million ounces of gold and 20 billion pounds of copper in measured, indicated and inferred resources. And these deposits have to be mined in 25 years, not as PM of Pakistan was told in 40 years.  The current prices of these two minerals, the total asset of the Canadian, Chilean and Pakistan government would be over $260 billion and according to former Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin, as the prices of gold and copper go up, the total yield could be even $500 billion or may be a trillion.






After going through all this detail I was under the impression that since TCC (Tethyan Copper Company) is playing spoof games, our government will not issue them the mining license after January since their explore license is going to be expired after this month. But unfortunately, the way our politicians always give priority to their own interest rather than Nation's, it is heard that there are deals going on in closed doors.  Some 20 top corporate bosses and lobbyists of two of the world’s largest gold mining groups have been meeting President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Gilani, Governor State Bank and others dignitaries in Islamabad urging them to promptly hand over one of the world’s biggest gold and copper treasures found in Baluchistan at Reko Diq, worth over $260 billion, to their companies, against peanuts.  Although CM Balochistan Mr. Raisani is stating that no deal has been signed as yet but TCC has already started advertising new jobs in local and national newspapers.

Job Advertisement in newspaper given by TCC

Moreover, a petition has been filed against assigning this project to TCC in Supreme Court under the panel of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudry himself and 2 other honorable judges. Dr. Samar Mubarkmand, chairman board of governors of Reko Diq Copper Development project, said in a presentation in front of the court that  Pakistan is possessed with the expertise and technology to explore and refine the precious metals — an investment which will help the government earn $2 billion per annum.  According to the international mining experts, if Pakistan gets its fair share from the gold and copper mines, Baluchistan and Pakistan would become richer than any of the present oil producing Gulf countries, many times over. “They have the goods, they need the will,” they said.

I came across with different opinions on this issue.  Unfortunately most of us have become worldly-minded and just by looking on the surface those materialistic people seem under the misconception that thousands of jobs will be provided by the foreign companies and this agreement should go on. They are not sense the fact that Pakistan will loose billions of dollars in mishandled agreements to explore this natural resource. Why don't we trust our abilities?  Why do we rely on outsiders to resolve our problems? I have no doubt in saying that we are talented enough and are capable of protecting our treasures. We are blessed with brilliant minds like Dr. Samar Mubarkmand who are ready to take the lead.  The government should support them instead of making few million dollars to fill their accounts which could cost the country billions.

For the sake of humanity and our country Pakistan, all of us including Supreme Court, parliament and the media have to play their vital role at this crucial time. Before it's too late to regret, I hope that our leaders will think patriotically and take decisions that are in the best interest of Pakistan.

Child Sexual Abuse ....A barbaric savagery in Pakistan

Child Sexual Abuse and sexual exploitation are generally obliterated or at least openly abnegated phenomena in Pakistan. Regrettably, these cases rarely elevate in light because most of the time perpetrators are acquaintances, neighbours or relatives of the children.  The number of child abuse cases have been rapidly augmenting  in Pakistan due to absence of proper hindrance and cautionary standards adopted by the government, as well as the parents, Sahil, a non-government organization (NGO) working for children rights, states in there 2010 report.

 In 2009, a total of 2012 reported cases of child sexual abuse were recorded from all over Pakistan , which was 9.4 per cent increase in comparison to 2008. According to the report of the NGO, the number of children who are sexually abused in Pakistan has registered an alarming increase this year. 1216 children were victimized in the first six months of this year. According to Sahil’s report, the facts and figures have been collected from news published in 65 different newspapers of the country.The report said, “We believe that the number of incidents presented in the print media do not represent the total numbers of such incidents in Pakistan-because such issues are taboo and not easily reported.”  The topper province is Punjab which has the highest number of child sexual abuse cases, standing at 62 %, Sindh recorded 28 % cases, Khyber Pakhtunkhawa – 1.5 %, Balochistan – 1% and Azad Kashmir stood at 0.5 %.  Out  of 1,216 cases reported in six months, 331 boys, where as 885 girls had been sexually abused.  The highest number of cases recorded in the category of abduction for sexual purposes for girls, whereas the boys had been mainly abused for sodomy, followed by gang sodomy, abduction for sexual purposes, and attempt of sodomy, among other similar cases. According to the statistics, a total of 2,425 abusers have sexually assaulted 1,216 children.  As per the report,  the most vulnerable age group of children is of 11-15 years, in which almost 25.5 per cent cases took place, followed by 6-10 years, with 16.5 per cent cases. Tragically, the report revealed that 81 % of ‘abusers’ were people known to the victim or their family, whereas the rest of 19 % were strangers. The main reason why this issue is so convoluted to cope with and makes it even more difficult to eliminate. Sexual abuse of children is cloaked in silence and is often pushed into the deep and dark corners of our homes and minds, left unattended and untreated.


 

Whenever I hear about this issue it makes me cringe. I refuse to call those human who are involved in this crime. Their lust and ignorance has made them animals rather beasts.It is so surprising that their own children are also a part of this society and they can be a pray to a beast like them. Besides the state of mind that exists in our society is a very bitter truth and a big shame for us being Muslims.

Child sexual abuse is a matter of grave concern for the society. It  is a global phenomenon and the developed nations had adopted strict measures to protect their children from such incidents. But ingloriously, our government is not interested in taking any serious action in this matter . Unfortunately, there is no ministry of Children in Pakistan. The government should run awareness programs throughout the country specially in rural areas where the cases are more, as part of school curriculum. this will help in many ways.At least an effort could be made and it is not something to be shown any reservation.We need to educate and encourage responsible members of the community to report cases of abuse/neglect and for the authorities to act on this information…we all have a responsibility here…

Government in dilemma......which side the camel will sit!!!!

PPP's government is in a big perplexity at the moment when on one side JUI-F already took its stance to quit the government and on the other side coalition party MQM has given 10 days ultimatum to have the action taken against Sindh Home Minister Zulfiqar Mirza.

President, Asif Ali Zardari in meeting with Delegation of Muttehda Qaumi Movement (MQM) led by Dr.Farooq Sattar at Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad on Monday.

 
Talks between government and Maulana Fazalur Rahman remained unsuccessful. JUI-F has already submitted the application in National Assembly to sit on opposition desks. On the other hand, MQM's delegation led by Dr. Farooq Satar met with PM Gilani on Sunday, Dec 19th and a firm assurance was given by Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and later on by President Zardari on Monday that MQM's reservations would be removed and immediate actions will be taken as per demand. MQM leadership expressed its concern regarding the racist remarks of Zulfiqar Mirza and presented a CD of the speech to President Zardari that had scuppered the coalition of both the parties, even quivering the federal government.

Now, since the ball is in PPP's court, therefore its top leadership will have to decide what significant decisions are to be made to keep the coalitions. Next few days in Pakistani politics are extremely critical. We will have to wait and see that in order to retain majority in the parliament, will PPP abnegate in front of MQM by taking action against Zulfiqar Mriza and by surrendering against JUI-F on the issues or we will witness the biggest horse trading in the history of Pakistani politics.
 
Lets see on which side this camel will sit!!!!!

Hypocrisy on a next level.......

Federal Law Minister Babar Awan

There is no second thought on this issue that normally politicians are hypocrites. Although there are some exemptions but we can count those ones on our fingers.

I was reading an article in Dawn titled as "Incoming foreign aid not being documented".  Our Federal Law Minister Mr. Babar Awan is presenting himself as a confused, pudding headed, muddleheaded fellow who doesn't even know what is he talking about.  On one side, he is confessing the inability of our so called government and on the other hand imposing that the people who are opposing and contradicting RGST are those who do not want to pay taxes.   Now look who is talking, the pot calling the kettle black or should I say that the donkey called the rooster big headed????

At this point I would like to remind Our dearest Federal Minister that you belong to the government who's President, Prime minister, and many of the ministers do not have one single proof of tax payments.  Now I leave it in your hands to decide what piece of advice should be offered to Mr. Awan????????

Sleaziness towards religion........our conscience is DEAD????

Corruption is one of the issues our country is dealing with since it came into being.  We as a nation are accustomed to it whether we accept it or not but as a Muslim my head is bowed in shame when I see some scrofulous and immoral people who proudly call themselves "MUSLIM"  can't keep their corruptness and dishonesty away from religion and its rituals.

The past is full of this shabbiness but most recent example of corruption came out when  National assembly standing committee for religious affairs mentioned the corruption in Hajj preparations. Furthermore, in a letter to Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, Saudi Prince Bandar bin Khalid has alleged that there is concrete evidence of financial botching and corruption as far as the Haj affairs of Pakistani ministry are concerned. He averred that the Pakistani government disdained the most economical Saudi offer pertaining to the accommodation of Pakistani hajis. He disclosed that his company offered 3,500 Saudi Riyal per pilgrim within two kilometres of Haj congregation venue but it was refused by Pakistani authorities as they claimed that they are seeking within 3 to 4 kilometres in order to get cheaper rates. Only the Pakistani pilgrims are still being charged 3,500-3,600 Saudi Riyals for this accommodation although the rent at such a far-off location is not more than 1,500 Riyals under any circumstance.  Also, according to the law the residence for the pilgrims shouldn't be more than 2 kilometers away from Haram Sharif. Not only that but transportation issues were also not resolved and in result Pakistani pilgrims faced much difficulty in moving around. On a rough basis billions of rupees corruption is been done, 2 lacs 38 thousand Rupees per person were collected but Pilgrims who went for Hajj through the government scheme faced immense problems due to lack of accommodation and unwillingness on the part of the administrators to provide any help.

Although Chief Justice took immediate notice and demanded an answer from Ministry within 15 days, Director General Hajj Rao Shakeel and others are arrested but as per past performances of Judicatory and direct links of Rao Shakeel and his team with Our Prime Minister Gillani, I cannot even hope for a fair trial. Only I can dream and wish that someday the time will come when I can raise my head with pride in front of the world and call myself Pakistani and a Muslim elegantly without any shame.......