Instead of celebrating womanhood, inspirational economic, political and social accomplishments of women past, present and future our main discourse is how vulgar the slogans are in the women march. The issue is that serious that few days ago, even a petition was filed against it with the claim that the sole purpose of this said march is to spread anarchy in public. Various anti-state parties are funding it, therefore it should be stopped. The petitioner, Judicial Activism Council Chairman Azhar Siddique’s biggest concerned was the slogans like Mera Jism, Meri marzi( My body, my choice).
Lahore High Court, declared the petition null and void with the remarks that March can’t be stopped under the constitution of Pakistan. LHC Chief Justice Mamoon Rashid Sheikh ordered to refrain from hate speech and immorality though.
March is a democratic way of bring up issues which need solutions. It mobilizes people of like minds at one place. People who are victims, isolated and feel excluded, get the sense of inclusiveness. So many people at one place, asking for same thing, shakes status quo. And that’s how public discourse starts. The voices are heard. The issues become prominent. For far, many rights e women have is because of the struggle of all the feminists who raised their voice. Came out and made the world realized that women is not less than anyone. It as their activism that we are now able to have equal rights. It may take time, but sooner or later concerned authority takes actions if the demands are logical and legit.
The Aurat March was first organized in Pakistan by Hum Auratain/ Us Women, a women collective in 2018. It became bit controversial due to its slogans. The problem is that the slogans are just shocking, and alien for the masses. They are not resonating well with the majority. The whole event has created cognitive dissonance among people. Mabey, everything was really so sudden and too early. The decision of majority can’t be ignored in democracy even if they are wrong majority.
It is amazing to see that people have strong believe that our women are safe, sheltered and protected despite Pakistan being ranked 151 out of 153 countries on the Global Gender Gap Index Report 2020 index, published by the World Economic Forum (WEF), people have strong believe that our women are safe, sheltered and protected. Just like the petitioner and LHC chief Justice majority finds the slogan vulgar, immoral and un-Islamic. Do your own survey: they will tell you these reports are fake and conspiracy against Pakistan.
This is where the root of all the problem lies: Unaware masses who is deliberately ignored.
We are ignoring the fact that not only our society is still patricidal and conservative, there is another elephant in the room: class system. People don’t even consider all these activists their people. They dub them ‘Candle Aunties from upper class who have all the luxuries.” They doubt their struggle. They reject them as their advocates. The divide is so clear.
Then comes the incident of the famous writer and king of dialogues, Mr. Khalil ur Rehman Qamer, how without any shame leashes out at Marvi Saramd on national television. Her crime was to interrupt him. He got flare up at mera ism, meri merzi. The “dialogue” he used for her is impossible for me to quote here. Do check the comments of people on his official Facebook page as well. People are appreciating him for giving shut up call to Marvi. He is a mindset. He and all other are deicing what is acceptable and what is not for women. And his reaction made it clear that there is indeed will of someone else on the body and life of woman.
Our women somehow find shelter in tradition and religion. Traditions are not some scared thing which can’t be changed. Religion on the other hand never stops anyone from living their lives.
Interesting thing is that many don’t even know that “mera jjism, meri merzi (My body, My choice) is prochoice slogan from USA. Here in Pakistan we are using it in broader term like freedom to control one’s own life, freedom to have choice of marriage, work, and giving birth or not. It is about raising voice against rape, sexual harassment, domestic violence, material rape, human trafficking, bonded labors’ slavery, and other rights. It is a legit. The idea that I am free and responsible for myself and my body is empowering in its self. No one has right to control any human.
The saddest part is that, in 2002, there is a need to explain the meaning and definition of basic human rights. We have to explain the meaning and context about every slogan. World is moving forward. The ideas, thoughts, societies are changing with more speed than ever. We are in the era of Artificial Intelligence. In many part of the world, gay marriage has become legal after all struggle, and lobbing. There is many more to come. When, unfortunately we are deciding who good women are and who bad women are.
Actually we all played our role in making things complicated for all of us. All the four pillars of state: Government, judiciary, executive and media along with an important institution of ours, “religion” didn’t play their respective role in making Pakistan a progressive, tolerant place for everyone. It was never on agenda. Ngos and civil societies come later. Talking about anything different from normal narrative is like opening a can of warm. Ideas take time to penetrate and to be accepted in every society. It is a natural phenomenon. This doesn’t happen by its own self though.
The million dollar question is who will bell the cat? Who will talk about it?
Silence serves no one. It is right time to be out and be louder for equality, justice and freedom, for realizing that woman as an independent human who is capable of living her own life. She has her own rights. And for that March must go on.
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