Women and Pakistan in Politics and Military

[Jungibaaz]

Women and Pakistan in Politics and Military
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Since the creation of Pakistan in 1947, women have played an active role in the running of the state. There have been many milestones, and in many places Pakistan has exceeded much of the Western world, but it has all been overshadowed by the ill treatment of women. In the media we hear all the sad stories about women in Pakistan. Women who suffer acid attacks, getting married to Qu’ran, honorary killings or living with a husband with multiple wives who regularly abuses all of them. This all happens because, as the media often puts, the country is governed under the sharia law. But that is not the Pakistan as it is. Indeed there are many downs about it, but the ups outweighs them. But indeed, the downs are truly horrific and nearly unseen in the Western world. However, there is a brighter side that is also unseen in many Western countries and happens under a sharia following country. The two main institutions that drive the nation are the military and parliament. It is these two institutions where the Pakistani women have excelled not just in the Muslim world, but globally as well.

Right from the birth of the nation, Pakistan became rewarding for women. Ra’ana Liaquat Ali Khan, the first First Lady of Pakistan, served the army from its creation in 1947 till 1951. Her work for the army was tremendous, for which she received the honorary rank of Brigadier-General, a one start rank in the military (Burki 18). Around this time, Canada resumes hiring women for military service and does not see a Brigadier-General until the 1987 (Canadian Armed Forces – Historical milestones of women). Meanwhile the US does not see its one star General until 1970 (2 Women Become Generals). In addition, Ra’ana was decorated with Order of Excellence, the highest civilian medal in Pakistan, for her work in the military. She was not only decorated in Pakistan, but also received numerous medals from other countries and organizations. Despite her retirement, she continued to work for the betterment of women in Pakistan (Abdulla).

There was much quietness about female involvement in military due to numerous wars between India and Pakistan. But then in early 2002, Pakistan received the first 2 star female Major-General in the Muslim world. Later in the early 2010s, Pakistan yet again received another 2 star Major-General. Whereas Canada has only ever had a Major-General once.[1] Moreover, women in the military, which often used to work as desk job, started taking active role in combat situation. In 2013, for the first time Pakistan received first batch of female paratroopers. During the same year, it also received first female combat ready air force pilots (Sjoberg 1).

Pakistan also has had significant contributions made to the parliament by the female. Fatima Ali Jinnah, the sister of the founder of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, contested the election in 1960 and narrowly lost it. She was up against a military dictator and some claim had the elections not been rigged, she would have won (al-Mujahid 280). Such elections can be comparable in modern world with the likes of ones conducted under Hosni Mubarak, former President of Egypt. However, the dream of having a female prime minister did not end there. She had laid the foundation where female politicians could lead the nation. Thus, in 1988, Pakistan received its first female head of the government. It was the 11th time in the world a female becoming head of the government and the first time in Muslim world. She went on to become the Prime Minister again in the 1993 (Gargan). In 2007, she was going to become the Prime Minister for the third time, but was assassinated shortly before the election. Her party went on to become leading party and selecting its own Prime Minister (Mehdi). Moreover, Bangladesh, which used to be Eastern part of Pakistan before the separation, received the 13th female head of the government in 1991. Since then, Bangladesh has been ruled by a female ruler (Woman prime ministers). Bangladesh was also plagued with military coups like Pakistan, but Fatima Jinnah’s legacy (during her time, the two nations were not separated), paved the road for greater female role in politics, which continued even after her death and the separation of the states. Meanwhile, US still had not had a female president. Canada on the other hand had the 17th and only female Prime Minister in 1993, who lasted in office for only 132 days. The Canadian female Prime Minister was made through party leadership poll, not having being elected through public vote.

In today’s world, Pakistan has many women, be Muslim or non-Muslim, in the provincial and national assembly, as well as the senate. Even the Islamic parties have non-Muslim women representing in the parliament (Women in Parliament). The parliament also had the privilege of having first female Speaker of the House in 2008 (Dawn). Even though Benazir was assassinated and Pakistan did not get a female Prime Minister for the third time, it did receive female Speaker of the House. Moreover, the figures of female representation in the lower house are comparable to Western nations and often exceeding. For example, United States has 18% female representation and the United Kingdom has 23, with the world average being 22%. Pakistan has 23% female representation, exceeding the US and being on par with the United Kingdom (Worldbank). But Pakistan is not limited to “today’s” world and is gearing for future already. Malala Yousufzai, who was shot in the head by the Taliban to silence her struggle against female education, has expressed her wish to take part in Pakistani politics and become the Prime Minister of Pakistan. She is no average person for she became the youngest Nobel Prize winner at 17 age (PRESS).

What is portrayed about Pakistan in the media houses is true, but not an identity. People have come to an understanding through the media that Pakistan is not the best place for a girl to be raised. It is engulfed by the Sharia law and the ill treatment of women goes unnoticed as men use the law as a cover. But under the same Sharia law, Pakistan has seen female head of the government, multiple Major-Generals and youngest Nobel Prize recipient among other achievements. And many of these achievements were certainly not only the first in Pakistan, a Sharia bound country, but also globally. Though achievements do not build a country alone, but having women leadership in military and politics can bring the voice of every women to the door of policy makers. Perhaps, as a result, Pakistan will see a better picture of itself in the foreign lands one day.







Bibliography
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Abdulla, Faisal. Begum Rana Liaquat Ali Khan. n.d. Web. 13 November 2014. <http://kazbar.org/jazbah/raanak.php>.

al-Mujahid, Sharif. "Asian Survey." Pakistan's First Presidential Elections 5.6 (1965): 280. JSTOR. 13 November 2014. <http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.langara.bc.ca/stable/2642126>.

Burki, Shireen. The Politics of State Intervention: Gender Politics in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran. Lexington Books, 2013. Google Books. 13 November 2014.

Canadian Armed Forces – Historical milestones of women. 6 3 2014. Webpage. 13 November 2014.

Dawn. What NA did in the last five years. 16 March 2013. Web. 13 November 2014. <http://www.dawn.com/news/795785/what-na-did-in-the-last-five-years>.

GARGAN, EDWARD A. Bhutto Wins Plurality and Faces a New Struggle. 8 October 1993. Archives. 13 November 2014. <http://www.nytimes.com/1993/10/08/world/bhutto-wins-plurality-and-faces-a-new-struggle.html>.

Khalid, Lubna. Woman in control. n.d. Web. 13 November 2014. <http://e.thenews.com.pk/newsmag/mag/detail_article.asp?magId=1&id=7801>.

Mehdi, Tahir. An overview of 2008 general elections. 16 April 2013. Web. 13 November 2014. <http://www.dawn.com/news/802815/an-overview-of-2008-general-elections>.

PRESS, ASSOCIATED. Malala Yousafzai Becomes Youngest-Ever Nobel Prize Winner. 10 October 2014. Web. 13 November 2014. <http://www.people.com/article/malala-yousafzai-wins-nobel-prize>.

Sjoberg, Laura. Gender, War, and Conflict. Cambridge: John Wiley & Sons, 2014. Google book.

Woman prime ministers. n.d. Web. 13 November 2014. <http://www.guide2womenleaders.com/Premier_Ministers.htm>.

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[1] (Canadian Armed Forces – Historical milestones of women)


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---- This is NOT my own work. A certain PDF member who doesn't wish to be named took the time to write this, all due credit to him.