The gender discrimination in Pakistan
Dr. Jassim Taqui
Pakistan continues to face gender discrimination, which was inherited by Gen. Zia Ul Haq era. The nation also faces the lack of courage of the parliament to reverse the gender discriminatory laws that go at variance with the ideals of the founding father Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Foes of gender equality ignore the fact that Jinnah opted for secular system to ensure gender equality and full protection of minorities. Jinnah was aware that the seminaries were the stumbling blocks due to their dogma and inflexibility. Hence, he made his famous speech after the creation of Pakistan. Said Jinnah so majestically, “Today Hindus would cease to be Hindus and Muslims would cease to be Muslims, not in the religious sense, because that is personal faith of each individual, but in the political sense as citizens of the State.”
This reminds me of the 2000 Hollywood political thriller “ The Contender” about Laine Hanson’s nomination and confirmation as Vice President. An allegation that she was involved in a sexual orgy at the age of 19 is leaked to the press. As pressure mounts on Laine, she’s torn between fighting back or striking to her principles. She opted to refusing to comment on the allegations even as FBI uncovered documentary evidence proving her innocence. Laine maintained that it was below her dignity even to defend herself since it was pertaining to her personal life. She rather preferred to quit the race for Vice Presidency only to find the President and the Congress reject her withdrawal and confirm her nomination in a dramatic defeat of the adversaries of gender equality.
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