Fight Hudood, Protect Women

Re #393,
``...bad news when the Supreme Court of Pakistan held that they could not issue “khula” divorces to women who did not have the consent of their husbands. This decision leaves countless women facing abuse helpless and entirely dependent on their husbands..``

This statement is not correct.
A petition has been filed before the Federal Shariat Court to challenge the right of khula without husband`s consent. This right has been there since 1967. From the initial comments, the FSC does not seem sympathetic to the petition.
Perhaps the following news item was misinterpreted.

``LAHORE, Feb 28: A full bench of the Federal Shariat Court (FSC) admitted on Wednesday 12 identical petitions on Khula or a plea by a woman for divorce, for hearing. The bench said the petitions would be heard at the principal seat and provincial branch registries.

A statement issued by the court read the petitions had raised the issue whether court was empowered to dissolve a marriage through Khula without the consent of a husband. The petitions stated that court had no power to dissolve a marriage without consent of a husband.

The bench observed that two Supreme Court judgments in 1945 and 1952 had held that court was not empowered to dissolve the marriage through Khula while another Supreme Court judgment in 1967 ruled that court was empowered to dissolve the marriage without the consent of a husband.

The full bench, consisting of Chief Justice Haziqul Khairi and justices Allama Dr Fida Muhammad Khan and Salahuddin Mirza, observed that there were two precedents — Jameela and Bareera cases — in the life of the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) supporting Khula.

Deciding these cases, the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) observed tense relations between the husbands and their wives and ordered the men to divorce their wives against dower or property gifted to them.

The court will also consult religious scholars, lawyers and jurists apart from counsel of federal and provincial governments in the cases.``

Re: # 395

BJK - I suggest you share your heartfelt emotions directly with anaa. I am sure they will appreciate those.

Regards.

Note: And let the uncouth testosterones jump up and down and disintegrate.

... so this hindoo bigot plagiarist is now finding solace in the sympathy of some simplistic naive `nek perveen` type ``Pakistani Sisters``.

#392 by ZahraJ

I salute those great ladies – my Pakistani sisters – who struggle under tremendous odds of the combined powers of a khaki dictatorship, mullah rule, wishy-washy politicians and a very apathetic male AND female population. My darlings, if there is any hope for your country, it is based in you and for all practical purposes, in you alone. Focus on the young, my dears, where there is still the potential of innovative ideas and original thoughts – where the mind has not atrophied – and where there is still the innocence to ask the most basic questions – “what are we all about” – and the ability to ask of your atrocity-makers – “who gave you the right?” – and hopefully someday an ability to say – “I refuse you….I will accept it no more, no more, no more…!”

Keep that hope alive, my sisters – and pass it on to those little dots that blink uncertainly now. Shelter them with your palms, and your bosoms, and your courage, and your compassion – so the light that matters can keep going on and get stronger over time.

The oppressors can wrap all the burqas of the world around you – but the thoughts are your own! They can never make you think their thoughts unless you let them! Hang on to your own thoughts with all your might – and you will remain the independent individual that you were made to be by the greatest Maker of them all!

Even the darkest of the nights must end in the light of the morning. Keep looking and never stop looking – looking for that first ray of light, the harbinger of the unstoppable!

It can not be long now!

#385 by okhla99

That`s why I called you a mediocre, and you`ve just proven it beyond any doubt:

``The Multan bench of the High Court followed the same ``logic `` as Teshah in acquitting the rapists in the Mukhtaran Mai case. ``

So, you`re saying the Multan Bench ruled that Mai was falsely alleging rape for personal gains and acquitted the rapists, because that`s what your friend is saying.

Very sad!!!

[In the weeks following her death, Pakistani women received further bad news when the Supreme Court of Pakistan held that they could not issue “khula” divorces to women who did not have the consent of their husbands. This decision leaves countless women facing abuse helpless and entirely dependent on their husbands. ]

http://4anaa.org/

http://www.4anaa.org/

International Women`s day Message

March 7, 2007

Dear Friends:

Tomorrow International Women’s Day will be commemorated around the world. There will be rallies, talks and protests that will mark the progress made by women in the past year. As ANAA’s President, I am torn between the pride I feel for the courage of Pakistani women who have persevered in their struggle for equality and justice and deep disappointment at the way their struggles have been politically manipulated by the political forces in Pakistan.

In the past year, there was much talk about the Women’s Protection Bill that was passed by both Houses in Pakistan. Reports insisted that this would dramatically alter the status of women in Pakistan. Among other things, it was promised that rape victims would be able to easily get justice in Pakistan. DNA tests would be used to process evidence. As human rights and women’s groups celebrated this Bill, little thought was given to the reality that there is only one DNA lab in the whole of Pakistan and that rape victims are often unable to pay even the bus fare to the police station let alone the cost of DNA analysis for their case. As media reports died down, I fear that the international community has bought the vacuous promises in the Bill and nearly abandoned the fight on behalf of Pakistani women.

As the Pakistani Government was touting its gender sensitivity under the Women’s Protection Bill, the Hasba Bill was passed in the NWFP assembly which established a mohtasib or “moral police”. Since the passage of the Bill, women have routinely been harassed at educational institutions, public buildings and other public spaces. The passage of the Bill presents a severe threat to women in Pakistan,

Just in the past month, Pakistani women faced a severe blow when Zille Huma, female minister in the Punjab Government was assassinated at the hands of a religious zealot. The same man, had threatened to kill other women for not wearing the proper Islamic hijab (not the traditional headcovering or dupatta which she wore) and had not been apprehended because of the interference of various religious leaders. In the weeks following her death, Pakistani women received further bad news when the Supreme Court of Pakistan held that they could not issue “khula” divorces to women who did not have the consent of their husbands. This decision leaves countless women facing abuse helpless and entirely dependent on their husbands.

However, I would not end this letter without also commending my Pakistani sisters for their incredible courage in the face of all this adversity. A few months ago, Pakistani women in Lahore participated in a marathon, despite the opposition of religious parties. Every day, millions of Pakistani women brave discrimination, harassment and an inegalitarian system and continue in their struggle to get education, participate in the workforce and get better lives for their children. We at ANAA would like to salute these women and renew our commitment to raising their voice before Pakistanis and the international community. We urge everyone to join us in our commitment and support the struggles of Pakistani women.



Sincerely,

Amna Buttar

President ANAA

#389

Ama yaar Okhla, don`t try to dodge the question! :)

Have the judges of the Pakistani Supreme Court taken an oath of loyalty to the Pakistani army?

Or not?

If yes, they should follow their ``marching orders``! Case closed!

What is all this brou-haha about, then! Just feel-good stuff and you know it!

the judiciary is helpless before a corrupt executive. dont blame the judges for police misconduct that is allowed to go unchecked by the executive, as clearly happened in this case.

Re: # 386

Judiciary in Pakistan is ``committed`` to upholding the rule of law,..etc etc.

That it is ``independent`` has never been my contention.

A committed judiciary is distinct from an independent judiciary.
However, both are equally capable of abuse or of being abused.
Also, both are capable of dispensing quality justice.

And yes, both contain elements(judges) who provide ``the best justice money can buy``.

okla #385 no one can chase anyone away from chowk. so dont worry on that account. i appreciate where you are coming from, and am all for civilized dialogue.

but what you are seeing here is not mere logic - since teshah knows as well as anyone else what i wrote to him in the post below. no one can even change anyone`s thinking on chowk - mindsets are based on a lifetime of experience, and mere ``logic`` will not change mindsets. in teshah`s mind, there will always be ``upper caste`` and ``lower caste`` people, and yet he will never have a problem calling himself a muslim. in teshah`s mind a woman from a poor family is no better than a cow or a goat, while a wealthy man surrounded by gunmen is to be looked up to.

all one can do is rant a bit on chowk. if it changes someone`s mind on an issue, fine. but i wont hold my breath for that to happen.

teshah #384

You think that you can write #358, where, e.g., you say that ``Any how thanks to her alleged rape by the Mastoies all rural women are to day envying her fraud rape. Many of them followed her trick but failed to get Mai like justice. ``and then claim that ``I never condoned rape of any sex.``?

You say that the court did not find any ``proof``? Who do you think you are fooling? The woman was ``sentenced`` to this crime by the panchayat in the open - and you claim that there is not enough proof of the rape?? All this proves is what you know as well as anyone else - that police in Pakistan can come up with ``witnesses`` who will say whatever the highest bidder wants them to say.

As for ``honor``? You talk about ``honor``? A woman may be raped, but she is dishonored only in the eyes of shameless men who have no clue about honor and whose ``honor`` can be bought for cash.

#385
[Let us not permit our intellects (albeit mediocre) to fall into the same trap.]

I wholeheartedly agree with your ``albeit`` estimate. :)

Regarding the Pakistani Supreme Court, please correct me if I am wrong, but hasn`t every judge there (as well as the chief justice) taken an oath of loyalty to the army? Isn`t that the reason that a few years ago the then chief justice and several judges were forced to resign? Because they refused that oath at the time.

So what kind of charade is this - this claim of ``independence of the judiciary``?

Who is fooling whom?!

#375, 376
Chacha Zee and Tahmed,

The Multan bench of the High Court followed the same ``logic`` as Teshah in acquitting the rapists in the Mukhtaran Mai case. So, the judges there would also qualify as ``mass murderers`` in your opinion.

Once again, flawed logic, skewed arguments, opposing view points need to be countered. The interactors need not be hounded out of Chowk. We can disagree with them, like we can with the High Court. We should tolerate them and try to reason with them and no, this would not amount to ``sitting in their lap``.

After all ``intolerance`` is the hallmark of Jehadi mindsets. Let us not permit our intellects (albeit mediocre) to fall into the same trap.

Re: # 373
themad32

``what is the ``logic`` you see in condoning the rape of a women and bad-mouthing the woman when she protests?``

I never condoned rape of any sex. As regards Mai`s case, as far as I know, her accusation of rape has yet to be proved in any court of law. So far it remains a media fraud with ulterior motive, apparently, of maligning Islam and the Paky male gender. Otherwise what is the honour in publicizing in one`s dishonour by rape (alleged only at that) which has obviously become so gainful especially for Mai, and perhaps for her pimpish panderers.

Jab okhal mein sir diya to moosal se kya darna!!

Okhla and others, please pay attention.

It really does not give this interactor any pleasure when I speak ill of the country of Pakistan or its residents.

It REALLY does not. In fact, it hurts me a lot!

I sincerely believe that we are the same people and what applies to one very much applies to the other, perhaps with different context. And the depravities we witness in one are very much capable of reincarnating in the other in a much shorter time frame - shorter than most realize.

The problem is, yaaran - exactly what the problems have been forever. I don`t see you guys facing up to a whole lot of crappy stuff. Making jihadis into heroes is one such crap, looking away from the acts (hopefully now stopped, though one doubts it) of your own rulers of pumping jihadis and hijacking civilian airlines is another, and building up demagogues - who gave you that segregationist mindset - building those very demagogues up into shining-armored knights - that is the height of hypocrisy.

And if all that were not enough, the worst offense is that you have watched passively while all that outrage took place and continue to do so - so much so that your own intelligensia - which knows better, is more cowed down than a bakree about to be sacrificed!

If you don`t face up to crap - guess what you will forever keep.

CRAP!

That is what makes me say the things I say on the state of the state of Pakistan. Sorry if it comes out sounding crappy.