Congratulations to Dr Fahmida Mirza, who has made history by getting elected as the first lady speaker of Pakistan's National Assembly. That augurs well for women's power in Pakistan, as well as rest of the Muslim world, just as the late Benazir Bhutto was the trail-blazer by becoming the first woman Prime Minister of Pakistan, and indeed the first in any Muslim country.
Women's rights are a matter of huge controversy and serious, as well as a frivolous debate. Caricatures of Burqa-clad women, or stereotypes of females carrying water pitchers on their head and a brood of children in arms, or following them, are the western ignoramuses' idea of the place of women in Muslim societies.
The western press cries itself hoarse lamenting the plight of oppressed and down-trodden women in the East - particularly the Muslim households, while flaunting scantily clad females who are exploited shamelessly in the name of 'liberalism' and 'enlightened' western values. The fact remains that such values are always counted in terms of dollars, euros or pounds sterling for the gutter press that publishes such pictures as their ideal of a 'liberated soul' and 'freedom of expression' or 'women's lib' or 'Human Rights'.
Their hypocrisy is boundless, as they scoff at a female Muslim's right to wear a head-scarf if she so chooses, calling it an affront to their ideas of women's emancipation or 'conformism'.
Such double standards and tongue in cheek profession of liberty, while denying the right of individuals to choose even one's own style of dressing, is sheer absurdity and a manifestation of ingrained hostility towards Muslims.
This is a direct result of centuries of biased and ignorant propaganda of Christian priesthood, who feel threatened by the freedom concepts and liberalisation preached and practised by adherents of Islam.
Historically, Islam was the first world order that bestowed emancipation upon women, after eons of slavery, exploitation and drudgery. It gave equal right to women, which the western world has yet to emulate in its true sense. A few examples will illustrate the point:
i) USA took centuries to abolish slavery and discrimination based on race, gender or colour of skin. A woman became a Justice of the Federal Court only recently. A woman rose to the Speaker-ship of the House of Representatives only a year ago. The country has yet to elect a lady as a President of the USA.
ii) Centuries after Magna Carta, Margaret Thatcher was the first woman to become a Prime Minister, only in the late twentieth century, in UK.
iii) Switzerland granted the 'right of vote' to its female population only a few years back.
iv) Merkel is the first woman German Chancellor.
v) Before Eva Peron, there is no other Head of State or Government on record, in the Americas (North & South) who was a woman. The same holds true even now.
vi) In France, the land of 'Libert', 'Egalite' et 'Fraternite'(Liberty, Equality and Fraternity) there is no mention of 'Sorority'.
This will expose the sham of 'women-lib' or emancipation of women in the west, where no chance is lost in castigating Muslim countries for their treatment of the female population.
This is not to say that every thing in Muslim societies is as it should be. There is a lot to be done to set matters right, and it is hoped that Dr Fahmida Mirza will use her position and influence to guide legislation into that direction, for betterment of the lot of her sisters in Pakistan. This will set an example for other Muslim societies to follow.
Coming to the agenda of an incoming administration, all the noises so far heard, from the parties that secured majorities in the elections a month back, speak of the very thing we have advised against, in these columns.
That is, a campaign of vendetta, or vilification, rather than a scheme for improving the life of the common man. With the unsavoury reputation, some these newly elected stalwarts have enjoyed in the past, one fears about their real intentions, once the euphoria of victory at the polls subsides.
The very fact, that a leader of the House or the Prime Minister has not yet been nominated and the composition of the cabinet is still in thin air, is a cause of major anxiety.
Meanwhile people are suffering from the scarcity and rising price of essentials like food, fuel, transport, etc, to say nothing of power 'brown' and 'blackouts' and law and order situation, while the political parties think re-instatement of judiciary is their sole purpose in life.
But that is not what the electorate voted them into office for, and they must remember their duty to their constituents. It is hoped that Mme. Speaker will remind them of this vital aspect of the House's funcxtion.
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