Taleem Humara Bhe Haq Hai: Education is our Right Too

Women will always be Women… even in a male chauvinist society. They lag behind in having basic rights in society. Denying girls their education is synonymous with setting up a slave in society. Women constitute half of the population, but socially, politically and economically, a woman is at the mercy of male members. The status of education in Sindh can be gauged from the fact that only 50 percent of children between age groups of five and 15 are enrolled in schools while about 75 percent of the rural girls never attend school, as per a Dawn Report. In the wake of devastating floods, rain wreaked havoc with the infrastructure and brought education standards to the lowest rung.

According to official reports from the Education Ministry, at least 10000 schools have been damaged in Sindh during the floods and rains in 2010 and 2011. Despite the fact that provincial assembly earmarked hefty funds to rehabilitate schools, no steps have been taken yet. The status of girls’ school is at the lowest ebb. Girls’ education has never been the priority of the state’s attention. In Nawasbahsh, which is the hometown of President Asif Ali Zardari, over 200 girls schools were completely damaged during the monsoon. This puts the education of thousands children at stake. Two full years have elapsed since that mishap but no serious efforts are taken by the government yet. Paradoxically, if the hometown of the president of the country depicts such a dismal picture, what would the condition in rest of the country?

Recent surveys conducted by FHRP in collaboration of FAFEN says that due to closure of girls schools, children are confined to their homes since parents prefer them staying at home to sending them to schools in neighboring village or to the Boys’ school. Moreover, many children were found wandering aimlessly in the streets. A girl named Shazia from UC Khadhar said that she along with other girls wanted to seek education, but due to closure of schools they were compelled to do household chores. If such practice continues, the education for girls would be a distant dream.

Sindh Government earmarked 131 billion in 2011-12 and Rs 231 billion in 2012-13 as Annual Development Program (ADP), but it could not rehabilitate the flood affected schools of the province which were destroyed in the face of torrential rains of 2010 shameless to state here that such funds have been swapped with development funds issued to local MPA’s and MNA’s. However, they are already given Rs.1.Crore each year to make development in their respective constituencies.

FHRP is driving campaign to rehabilitate, provide basic facilities and setting up more girls school in District Nawasbhah, the hometown of the president of Pakistan ,and invites Students, people and community in an outside of the country to be part of this campaign. . All are invited to send slogans, drawings, poems, SMS, Podcast, Voicemail or any material in any form to influence the decision makers.

Ashfak Siyal

Pakistani Women: In search for genuine redeemer

Pakistan surpassed many countries by allocating women seats in parliament in 2002. Out of 342 seated in National assembly, women seats are reserved 72 that is the highest figure in South Asia. This is worth appreciating that such an initiative was taken by military regime that has never remained friendly with fair sex in the past.  The steps were taken in the face of changes in women's parliamentary representation across the world and since then gender balance in politics has become imperative to a nation's international image.
 

Simply allocating or increasing the seats of women in national or provincial assembly does not guarantee that women’s rights will be protected. It is welcoming that women are included into political realms of Pakistan. This will definitely increase women’s influence in politics. However, story in Pakistani politics is quite on the contraray. The inclusion of women into political realms has remained debatable in Media and society that empowering women through parliament was just window dressing to arrest the attention of world in the wake of 9/11 and it served no purpose to redress the grievances of marginalized strata of society I.e. Women. The reason why society is   skeptic about “women empowerment” is that mainstreamed political parties not elected democratically, but selected all women parliamentarians. If we cast glance on the women parliamentarians on reserved seats, we will come to know that all belonged to influential political families who have little knowledge about women living in remote areas.
 
It is widely believed that the system of quota delivers as a momentary special measure to attain gender balance in parliament, but it does not facilitate the genuine political empowerment and democratic participation of women. Some people have argued that women legislators are treated as mere rubber stamp devoid of any real political and economic power. Generally, it is believed in social and political circle that the system offers only symbolic representation to women. in preference to working on policy issues freely, the elected women through this system remain under obligation of the political parties, compared to the directly elected legislators who have their constituencies as their real power base. This thing, it is believed, comes into play in the power politics where political weight is associated with directly elected legislators compared to indirectly elected candidates or those elected on reserved seats.
 
Due to lack of knowledge and actual participation of women in political process, male chauvinist politicians  have awarded  great number of seats to their family members in order to strengthen  the of net their family-centric or dynastic  politics in the country. Ten years have elapsed since women are awarded reserved seats but no significant change in common women’s life has been seen so far. This truly reflects that women parliamentarians are mere dummy and have no power .Moreover, quota based parliamentarians enjoy little rights to influence the decision as they always remain under the obligation of their political leaders. Most of the women are reluctant to comment on women specific issue since it affects the public life of the male political leaders.f
 
The women in Pakistan comprise 52% of the total population and are leading miserable life .Therefore they require genuine redeemer to alleviate their sufferings. The oppressed women need justice and rights and if their gender fellows do not become their wound healer than it is futile to reserve more seats for women or setup ministries or departments. The issues are resolved by involving genuine people and genuine efforts not by cosmetic measures

Women Disenfranchised disempowering in the realm of politics

Voter turnout is generally regarded as a barometer of political participation.  High turnout rates usually indicate popular interest and public confidence in the electoral system.  The 2008 polls were the second successive elections in Pakistan that saw an increase in voter turnouts – up to 45 per cent compared with 42 per cent in 2002. The recent national and international poll conducted in the country depicts dismal picture of low turnout ratio of women voter in the country.  It is very disappointing that the country’s half population comprises of women is disenfranchised on social, cultural, religious and political grounds. The observations of Election Commission Pakistan bear testimony to the fact that women voter turnout ratio in most of the countries specially Sindh and Baluchistan remained below par. Although the constitution of Pakistan guarantees to ensure women empowerment in the society, but Pakistan – a patriarchal society finds it difficult in implementing such constitutional provisions.

It is startling to mention here that mainstreamed political parties covertly concluded Agreement with Religious Parties to restrict women to caste vote in 2008 general election thus keeping chunk of woman of Northern Areas away from vote power. Moreover, during recent By-election 2012 held in Mianwali, Punjab, political parties also restricted women to cast their votes. According to sources, some Leaders held a Jirga for banning women votes cast and decided that women would not be allowed to cast their votes in Mianwali constituency.

The story of women suffrage is different in subcontinent and quite disturbing as well. Although the right of ‘women suffrage’ was given in 20th century across the Europe but  unfortunately   in subcontinent reserved seats were introduced  for women under Indian Act 1935.

The case with developing countries including Pakistan is different. In Pakistan, female are not allowed to vote in various constituencies. Pakistan currently has 38.8 million registered male voters compare to 32. 2 million female registered voters. Female voters face severe hurdles in casting their votes and getting themselves to the highest echelons of the power corridor.

Various reasons are assigned to disempowering women politically.  Deriving g the benefit of militancy in some disturbed part of the country many political pundits issue decree that women would be barred from the vote casting due to militancy. Whereas, the female voting turns-out in Pakistan has less to do with the war on terror and militancy. The issue of female voting turn-out has a cultural phenomenon and a question of honor in the areas where according to people bringing out women for voting would bring bad names to their honor.
Unless women is not empowered completely she cannot take bold steps.  In preference to facilitating direct participation of women by allotting the party tickets, the Pakistan has opted for reserve seats for women in both the upper houses and lower houses only to facilitate the selection of women belonging to powerful political and landlord backgrounds. In this way women parliamentarian are powerless. They even can’t bring any legislation in the favor of women unless she is given consent by male Chauvinists party leader.  Women protection Bill, Domestic violence bill and acid hurling bills are cases in point which were drafted by women parliamentarians but unfortunately all the bills have fallen prey to male dominant leadership.

It’s a high time that ECP takes up the issue seriously. In order to empower half of the population politically and socially. General election is approaching  in  2013 is approaching  but  NADRA ( authority to issue  Identity Cards ) has failed to identify pockets  where women have no Identification  card  to cast their vote . This seems conspiracy to keep marginalized segment of the country disenfranchised .The ECP must devise stringent   policies to ensure maximum participation of women in the realm of politics. It should ask political parties to allot tickets to its female workers in a certain proportion. The political parties not issuing tickets must be penalized. Moreover, the clergies and tribal elders opposing women voting must be trailed under constitutions. Election commission of Pakistan (ECP) recommended suggestion to parliamentarians that if any constituency having less than 10% of women voting turn out should have its result postponed and provisions of re-elections in all such all constituencies must be made.

All political parties must muster their resources and identify pockets where women turnout ratio is less than 10% and set up camps in their constituencies. Pakistan can’t afford to continue the half population captive to the tribal lords and male chauvinists. Political awareness and political education in conjunction with civil-society organization should have a priority among the various objectives ECP has designed. National Assembly has passed various important bills during past few years including Anti-harassment laws, but has ignored the basic right of voting for female population. Until such timely decisions are not made, Pakistan’s half population will face the suppression in the hands of its male law-makers and would be denied of their basic rights.

By Ashfak Siyal

Beggar girl....

Sony started cleaning the wind sheet of my car when my car stopped at the Traffic signal. Despite my frequent interdictions, she continued cleaning it.

“Hey, Hey! I do not have any money to give you! Off now, Girl!” I warned her.

“I know how to handle men like you. That’s why I am here. It is my art to siphon off money from guys like you Sahib Jee!” She smiled obscenely with an objectionable sign. My mouth, eyes and ears flew wide open, since I hadn’t heard such objectionable talk from a girl aging  below 15. I experienced the first incident of this type in my entire life.  For me it was a crying shame.

Who is responsible for this? Who spoiled her childhood?

I asked her to hop in the car to take her to the destination. But she refused to do so.

“Look traffic signal is going to green and my car won’t stop and you won’t get your money as well.” I warned her .

“Okay, but you have to drop me at next round about at my station.”

“Okay.” I said and opened door to let her in. She hastily sat in front.

I began asking “starter” questions to break the silence. What was her name? Where had she hailed from? Where did her family live? How come she professed this contemptible job? She didn’t answer anything except to tell me her name.

“What do you want? You jusy drop me at my Station!” She said moodily. She talked like professional.

“Look Sony, you have no idea how my heart is bleeding to see you in this condition. I see my younger sister in you. How could I do this to my sister? Please tell me your life story.”  I asked while changing the gears of car. “Okay but first take me to my location over there”. Pointing towards Bridge.

Sony is 15 . She resides under a bridge in Karachi where many children (girls and boys) gather round and loiter and have fun. The bridge also serves the purpose of the Beggary secretariat from where children under ages 10 and 12 receive directives from their Head Honcho. Without the consent of the head no children can think of beating a hasty retreat. Sony was here for 5 years and now she is supervising other children. Why don’t you run away from this hell? I asked Sony.

“Of No use Sahib!”

“Why?”

“The leader has strong relation with street thugs and policemen who easily spot and get us back to the begging. I tried many times to run off to go home, but each time I was nabbed by policemen”.

What did that bastard have to do with children?  

Sony looked much perturbed upon my question and she was looking back and forth, perhaps looking for leader.

What you looking for? I asked

Sahib! Go away don’t waste time. If the Leader saw me talking to you he would beat me hollow.

“Rest assured, Sony, You are with me right now, and no one can harm you in my presence.” My consolation didn’t work and she moved along with her bale laden on the shoulder.

“Look Sony you are just my little sister and I have gift for you and your friends.”

“What you have? I don’t need any gift from you!”She tried to open the door of the car but failed .

“I know what cunning purpose you male have behind this gift”

My jaw dropped down and I could sense the magnitude of her broken soul. Her face illustrated the life she led like a fading Rose beaten by Storms. Her countenance did not reflect the age she grew up too early and this was not her fault.

“Look, Sony! If you didn’t tell the truth, How will you  get away with  this hell-like life. Don’t you want those bastards to be punished who spoiled your and other children’s life? They kept you away from your family and everything you dreamed of” I tried to convince her.

She paused at the corner while turning towards Main Street and cast glance at me with incisive eyes as if she had had mercy upon me. She walked towards me with slow pace

.

“What you want to know?” She asked like grownup women would.

“Who did this wrong to you? Tell me how did you come here? Who spoiled your childhood?” I poured questions rapidly.

“I hate my life. I would pray for other children not to lead life like me. I had dream of playing with my fellows too in village but who knew that the fawn was always chased by hunter!” She said, biting her lower lips with frowning eyes.

“It was long ago when I went to fair held in the nearby town with my parents. This was my first visit and I was so excited to see the event. Many friends of mine kept telling me about the roller coaster, merry- go round- and Toys for girls, Bangles, henna. The entire village was decorated with Buntings …” She sighed for a moment. “I was completely lost in the rejoice of it. I lost the way and wandered back and forth. My parents searched me a lot but in vain. All of sudden an old man with cat- like moustaches and an ugly face approached me. He promised to take me home and gave something to eat.”

“Then  what ?” I asked.

“Next day I found my self in a congested room where many other children girls and boys  were sleeping  like animals.” Sony sighed for moment. “I cried a lot and missed mother a lot. Hearing  my voice he came inside the room and slapped me on my face with his hammer like hands”.

“What does he make you and the other children do?” I asked

“He is a rascal. He spoiled my childhood. I am just like his daughter but he did not spare me. All children, you see here, have to satisfy them sexually.”  

What?

“All children are given different task like begging at traffic signal, collecting food from houses while others work as sex toys for the lust seekers that they are. Beggar girls suffer - The way of giving money is very disgusting. They drop Money in their laps. when girls try to take money they grasp hands with their thighs.

Did you ever try to escape? I asked.

“What if I escape? My life is ruined now. no one would accept me at home. Though I tried to escape many times the Police officials caught me various time at Bus station and returned me here.”she said.

The life of begging children is in deplorable condition in Karachi. Countless children are leading miserable life like Sony. It is high time that the government arranged a mechanism to embrace those wandering children and have the concerned department send surveillance teams to spot locations where children are abused and put the culprits behind bars.

By Ashfak Siyal

To Farida, with Respect

Women in Pakistan are not safe. They have to encounter various difficulties in the society. Thinking of working in office is taboo, but there are daring girls like Farida Afridi, who sadly sacrificed her life for the cause of women. She was activist and assertive worker who rendered valuable service for national social organizations based in Khyber Pakhtoonkha. The Khyber Pakhtoonkha province is already riddled with cases where the condition of women is deplorable to say the least. 




Farida had received several threats from hardliners for a long time. She was adamant in her mission and didn’t care for such intimidation. She had in her veins the blood of a warrior and belonged to the daring race of women. One morning when Farida returned home from office, two motorcyclists restrained her on the way. They shot at her and killed her in broad daylight. 

This incident really cries shame on such fanatics. Civil society and Human rights organizations have condemned the despicable deed of these hardliners who wanted to silence women. They are, however, ignorant of the fact that their nefarious acts have brought millions of supporters of Farida to gather together at one platform.  The onus of responsibility lies on the government, which has failed in its duty to ensure the protection of women, their lives and rights. The organization I am working for is determined to unveil perpetrators and will keep staging its protests, rallies and the like until those on the wrong are given punishment. Such cowardly acts cannot cast down the hope and courage of women who work for the emancipation of other women. The Killing of Farida does is not tantamount to silencing women or oppressing their rights. This has given impetus to Thousands of Faridas, who wait to battle it out with courage. The sad thing is that incident took place in a region where women are highly revered and given high respect in the society. The fact that that very region has fallen prey to hardliners who do not want see women progressive and enlightened is very disheartening.

By Ashfak Siyal

STATUS OF AFGHAN WOMEN AFTER TALIBAN REGIME

Afghanistan has had a conventional patriarchal tribal system. Most sections of society in Afghanistan comprises people who by nature and culture are very conservative. This in turn leads to their propensity of possessing a fairly strict set of ideals when it comes to the issue of a woman’s honor. Afghanistan is a strongly male dominated society - a cultural setting which dates back to about thousands of years ago. The country has always remained an arena for local and foreign invasions and has rarely seen stability and peace.
Women in Afghanistan have enjoyed little liberty during the Taliban Era. Even men fell prey to the hardliner Taliban. I still remember when the Afghanistan Cricket team visited Pakistan to play a match in a one-day cricket series. I was startled to see that all the players had grown beards and no players dared to wear shorts even in their Warm-Up matches. The status of women was quite pathetic during the Taliban era.

Critics of the Taliban regime have believed that the Taliban treated their women under a stiff hand, through the implementation of orthodox religious laws. The women of Afghan were put behind veils. Any woman found without a “Burqa“ was submitted to the Jirga, or the Grand Afghan Jury, where she was treated shabbily. They were not allowed to go outside their homes without the parochial control of one of the male members of the house. One can find many videos on YouTube which show how women were beaten brutally in the public by Taliban hardliners and no one dared to stop them. This created a row among international human rights organizations, civil society organizations and also raised a furore in many a political circle. The US-led government  with President Hamid Karzai at the helm of affairs did succeed to some extent - it brought in certain changes to uplift the social status of women by allocating 25% seats for women in the lower houseof the Parliament, and 17% for the upper house and more importantly the Ministry of Women’s Affairs was formed in order to empower women socially, economically and politically.


The Supreme Court of Afghan issued orders in 2005 banning forced and under age marriage across the country. Though the Taliban-era has gone and the lives of people have come a full circle - yet the environment is not as friendly as it is seen. Many an Non-Government Organization face threats and challenges to work in conservative tribal areas. Hence the condition of women in  rural areas cannot be ascertained properly. Though the Ministry for Women’s affairs was incorporated by the Karzai government, it has not done much. The recent killing of the Minister for Women’s Affairs , Ms .Safia Amjan bears testimony to the fact that the threat for women in Afghanistan still looms large. Besides  this, many Non-Government Organizations have shifted their offices to Pakistan in the wake of  killing  and kidnapping of many activists and social workers in Afghanistan.

The irony lies in the fact that there are numerous members of the parliament who have clandestine affiliations with the Taliban and they want to retain the present status of women in Afghanistan. The reason is partially because they do not trust the Hamid Karzai government and  partly because of  the recent covert USA-Taliban alliance which has created a trust deficit between the government and warlords. The critics and media personnel based in  Afghanistan  believe that the current interim set up includes warlords which have strong relations with criminals and such warlords enjoyed huge influence that it was an uphill task for many International Organizations to work in vulnerable  areas.  The funding and development is not being made in a proper way. Many Human rights activists like Mariam Rawi, criticize current interim set up and maintains that it has  become hostage in the hands of  warlords. Human Rights Watch has to say this :

“Women in the country are still vulnerable to reprisal at the behest of different  factions  in the ongoing fighting “. 

BBC reports that the condition of women has not changed as the US and its Allies have pledged to  empower women along with the ouster of the Taliban regime. The Women of Afghanistan are not safe. Many tall claims were made by the international community to bring economic development in the country after destroying thousands of homes and making millions of poor Afghans homeless. The international donors made tall claims l that it made a huge investment in Afghanistan to alleviate the condition of people, but recent surveys illustrate a horrible picture of poor Afghan who are compelled to give off their daughter to the lenders because their parents could  not afford them. It is high time that the international community put stern efforts to assess real condition of Afghan women. The fate of women cannot be harmed and disparaged for the political pursuit of Afghanistan.

Sexual Harassment Among Women in Marginalized Society

Despite claims of all major successive governments to promote religious tolerance and to bring an end to discrimination in Pakistan, the country's minorities are still going through different types of tests, including sexual harassment, forced conversion, religious discrimination; lack of education, higher rates of infant mortality ratio and fewer job opportunities.  A study of minority women in Pakistan reveals the awful facts.

A recent report that speaks about sexual harassment in the segments of marginalized society exhibits a horrific picture. The report says that as many as 74 percent  of the minority women have encountered sexual harassment  in 2011-2012, where 43 percent women complained of religious discrimination at jobs, educational institutions and in the community at large. The report also says that 23 percent minority girls (Hindu –Christianity) were forced to learn Islamic education in the absence of an alternative subject.

Research shows that 45 percent of minority women were found to be lower in status than their national counterparts in a better economic setting. The living (housing, civic facilities) and economic conditions of women, assessed through incomes, savings, health, education also placed minority women on the margins of social and economic development.

Sexual harassment in Educational Institutions:

According to research, sexual harassment in education institutions range from touching, blowing whistles, and sharing vulgar jokes. So much so that harassment is not considered as crime but recreation in many part of the country. School and college-going girls who stand at Bus stops for transport are the worst affected. Scores of cases have been reported unfolding the heinous of teachers, lecturer in schools, colleges and universities who exert undue influence by threatening to withhold marks in the final term. Poor girls who find no alternative, fall prey to such sex starved creatures.

Sexual Harassment at work Place

The ratio of women to men working in offices or other places is very low. Though the  state government has set fixed quota of women in order to encourage them to work, many women are reluctant to join the organization. A recent survey shows that 46 percent of the total women refused to join office because they feared of sexually harassed while 36 percent did not join because parents did not allow them. The research, which was based on interviews of minority women, was led by Jennifer Jag Jivan and Mr Jacob while it was assessed by three prominent minority women, MNA Asiya Nasir, Ernestine C. Pinto and Pushpa Kumari, with the coordination of Sobia John. The study shows discrimination stemming from the Constitution of Pakistan, Regulation Hudood, blasphemy law, personal law and policy and analysis of teaching and the effects of discrimination, suggested practical improvements and institutional conditions for better integration of women and protection of their rights. Highlighting a comprehensive review of laws and policies to eradicate discrimination and gender violence, the study noted that the lack of official data on minorities could actually help civil society and government to evaluate the development and interventions to improve conditions and bring minority women towards mainstream.

By Ashfaq Siyal

Are we human? Or are we Women?

“What kind of species are we? Merely having organs make us living beings? Such appendages are owned by animals too! Look at that heifer!”

Heer, pointing at one of the heifers among herd grazing in the field, told Sassi.

“How they mingle with each other irrespective of color, cast and creed. No obstacles! No hindrance!”
Lying on the grass, making bales of sticks as Buttresses under the shade of trees, Heer and Sassi always used to share their life experiences. As like sees like, the  dejected seeks the company of the dejected.
“What have we got, being a human? Aren’t we treated worse than these animals are?” Heer tried to explore the enigma of life. She asked Sassi as if her friend could help undo the ties of the knots of life. 

They had many things in common. Both were given off in early age to old man to settle family feuds. Both were the best of friends and took the herds in the nearby field of their village to graze. They were friends since childhood and exchanged their happiness and sorrows under the shade of the dense Neem tree.  They grew together, played together  and dined together. With the passage of time, everything around them changed save for their miserable fates.

Heer was perturbed as her father gave her off in feud dispute when she was just 5 years old. The aggrieved party was pressing hard to get back the “pledge” that her family owed him. Heer belonged to a tribe that always remained at loggerheads with other tribes and spent much of money to purchase lethal weapons. It remained a wild practice of a clan to buy the latest weapons, regardless of whether they had the capacity to buy it or not. It was a matter of embarrassment when one tribe knew that the rival had procured new weapon to outdo the other.

Heer’s tribe killed 4 people in a bloody clash long ago. The issue surfaced when a dog entered into the fields owned by Heer’s tribe and spoiled the crops which had a minor value. This thing turned into a case of furious vandalism and this ended with the intrusion of an  “honorable jury “. The Jirga gave a decision that a minor girl should be given to aggrieved party to settle feud.

“No Heer! The fate  of animals and Women is the same. Animals are tamed, fed and cared for, so that they could give the owner a better price. Likewise women are domesticated so that they could be used as a means of compensation for the loss caused to another family. Both, animals and women, are herd tamed for another’s use. Both are made scapegoats; punished, and forced to bear the pubishment for others.”
Sassi hurriedly went to the field and pegged a stray heifer with a leash to the ground. She ensured that it would not spoil the crop of another field, possibly sparking off another feudal war.

Heer continued her speech, triying to emit all the woes buried in her heart to unburden it.
“Listen to the melodious chirping of Birds! It soothes and suffuses tranquility in the atmosphere. They have freedom to express their rejoice or grief. They wander to and fro.....”
Sassi interrupted Heer again; leaping across the puddle. She dispersed calves and Heifers to avoid a stampede. 

“Feel the fragrance of this Rose. Even this Pulse-less specie has a right. It has right to grow and bloom and spread fragrance. No one has put obstacle to its life!  Look at us! Nothing to gain.  We are endowed with the blessings of tongues, ears, eyes. But beyond all other considerations, we are women. What sin we have committed being a woman?” The tears flowed down slowly on her cheeks. “Sassi! All these species are enjoying their liberty. They are free to move, sing and feel. Why are we  in chains?” 

Sassi Stood up breaking the cosmos of Somberness. She grasped the Flower from the hands of Heer and asked her for a walk. Both stood up and smoothed their dresses down and strolled along the field.

“My sweet innocent friend, Why are you wasting away your energy in such thoughts? Man is born naturally but it is circumstances that man makes law and usance and spins webs to entangle innocent prey like us. The fate of a woman is written in the wind, it cannot be altered.”

Sassi tried to console Heer who stood still, like she was lost in the Bermuda triangle. “Just like the shepherd drives the herd, our parents drive us. The shepherd takes the herd into the field and feeds them so that they could be sold out in the market at high price. Likewise our parents feed us, bring us up so that we could be compensated for their wrong-doings. Nobody has control over his or her fate. All are like puppet whose strings are in the hands of others.”

As flies to wanton boys, Are we to the fortune

They kill us for  their sports.

By Ashfak Siyal

Rinkel Rinkel Little Girl

This is not the first time that a girl  of Minority is abducted and has forcibly been  converted  to other religion.  Forced conversion is the result of insecurity, loss of employment and social isolation which tempts a minority to seek refuge in other religion. When the state itself is hostage in the hands of religious zealot, how can it get its subject free? The Assassination of Salman Taseer, Governor of Punjab, is the case in point, when he  tried to protect Asia Bibi, a Christian woman who was allegedly  involved in Blasphemy . Salman called the law Black as he considered that the law was production of dictator General Zia who used religion to placate Mullahs  to elongate his power during Soviet  War .  

17 year old Rinkel Kumari  of District Ghotki, Sindh was allegedly taken from her home and converted to Islam. Her new name is Faryal and she is married to Naveed shah. Her father seeks refuge in Lahore stating the her daughter was kidnapped by influential person of his locality threatened him of facing severe consequences if protested against it.

Despite the fact, That Islam vehemently prohibits such act “There is no compulsion in religion. Regardless of the fact the founder of nation guaranteed that all minorities will have equal rights as enjoyed by other citizen yet minorities have been exploited in the name of religion,. Race and monetary time and again .

In his historical address of August 11, 1947 he said : “you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place of worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religsion or caste or creed, that has nothing to do with the business of the State.”

Perhaps, Mr Jinnah knew that the minority would not enjoy religious freedom only  but he knew not  how hard would it be for  a minority to live in the hands of bigoted hardliners.  Not to talk of religious freedom they even can’t enjoy social, political economic freedom. Newspapers are replete with the news highlighting the relocation of Minorities of Sindh  to neighboring country since they are not given protection to carry out their economic activities. Every now and then we hear of kidnapping of wealthy Hindu Tradesmen in Upper Sindh. And very next day he is released after paying heavy ransom.

Why do religious and fanatic pundits try to find heaven only by converting girls of Minority and not male (since most of the incidents reported are related with women only)? Interestingly when girls are being converted to Islam they are married off with “Islamic brothers” immediately. On the contrary when male is converted to Islam (in rare case) Mullahs or  “warden of religion” bothers not marrying him off with “Islamic Sister”. Wonders never cease! when asked by Media men if she ever knew about Islam and what thing inspired her to convert ,Rinkel  recited few verses from Koran in broken Arabic and other man seated next to her, took her arms and forbade media men questioning further . More interestingly, when girl of minority section embraces Islam and makes off with Muslim Husband the honor of family   is not disgraced, but when a girl of similar religion elopes with the her loved one  of similar religion is problematic for religious warden and tribal chiefs.  

Islam holds woman in high esteem. Why didn’t Mullah find Heaven to rescuing women who were buried alive   in Baluchistan by none other than the custodians of Law (parliamentarian cum tribal Chief) and enlivened the centuries-old odious  practice  of burying women and children  alive. The practice was revived which Islam forbade 1400 years ago.

Why don’t they raise voice against Honor killing, Wata Satta ,Vini and  Marrying off Girls with Koran. Why don’t they issue religious decree against the perpetrators of such heinous crime and earn heaven  ?

The land of sindh is believed to land of Sufis , land of tolerance and love . The people of sindh have secular temperament and Sufis  and Dervaish preferred to cut their heads off  against the ignorant Mullahs . They preferred ‘peaceful’ to ‘forcible’ to bring people into their circle. They won the hearts of Millions by way of their character and morality not by force or compulsion.

By Ashfaq Siyal

DAUGHTER OF EVE: PAINS TO WEAVE

Sughra opened her eyes in a poor house which was already packed to capacity. That was why no one welcomed her warmly. Her age seemed to be directly proportional to the increase in the sufferings she faced. Now 30, Sughra’s face illustrated the life she led- like a fading Rose beaten by Storms. She barely Spring throughout her life. The only season she saw was Autumn. She was a tree that shed the leaves of all her happiness of life.         

Sughra works as a Housemaid in the house of landowners and whatever she earns barely keeps the wolf from the door. She is the mother of four daughters. From her appearance she looks like a woman of 50. Sughra was married off in her early age when she was just 14 years old. Marriage is a gala event in everyone’s life, especially women, who dream of it. Sughra knew nothing about marriage - as it was her age to play with her friends. Sughra’s father cursed the day when she was born, causing her to be psychologically obsessed. It is common to marry off girls as children, for affording lives is far too difficult. In Sughra’s case, apparently it was marriage, though in reality it was a trade-off. Sughra’s husband gave off his younger sister to Sughra’s father in exchange for Sughra, who was married to the man - three times older than she was.            

To whom she could share her feelings? Her mother passed away long ago and she was worried about serving her step mother like a daughter- this girl was old enough for Sughra to play with.

Feeling lonely amid this hard toil she gazed in the sky, perhaps hoping to find God, and wiped away her tears. With a wistful sigh she thought to herself, “These things are a matter of fate. Why should I rebel against the will of God!” Sughra was torn between Scylla and Charybdis. On the one hand she was taunted by her father. On the other hand she had to face a life which she never dreamt of. Like other women Sughra considered it as written in the wind. She labors hard from dawn to dusk. She wakes up in the morning prepares breakfast for her husband and children. Her husband is illiterate and spends much time in gambling, betting and cock fighting.

Last week when he lost a bet and had no money to pay off, he was going to sell off daughter.
“Sughra!” He yelled at her the moment he entered the house. “What happened, father of   Sassi?” she asked. Sughra was   frightened as her husband was loaded and whenever he drank he misbehaved with Sughra and beat her a lot. “I have lost all the money I received from the land owner in a bet. I have lost money and honor among the friends.” He tumbled as he tried proceeding towards Sughra.  Sughra knew he was going to sell off her little daughter this time, as he had already sold off her 8 year old daughter Shama to gamblers on the condition that the small girl will remain at home until she attains puberty. “It’s all about you, rascal, you ill-fated bitch. The moment you have entered into my life I have seen no happiness.”

Sughra tried to give him support when he fell down but he forcefully hit her on her face.  
“But what happened?   What have I done now? I have always done your bidding”. Sughra cried and reminded him of her loyalty. “What you have done? You nasty bitch, you asking me what have you done?”

He continued, pointing at the daughters clinching to the apron of their 

Mother. “You have whelped puppies in my house! Now I am going to sell you off to compensate my loss.”
“No! Master of my fate , don’t do this to me ! I will pay for you loss. I will labour Day and Night to write off your loss… See? I have some money which I had saved,” Sughra implored her husband. She hurriedly brought a bag of plastic, wrapped in a velvet scarf. She showed him the money which she earned by sewing quilts. Her husband speedily untied the bag and flashed a monstrous smile when he saw money and went out of the house.

The next day she went to the house of the land owner The land owner was waiting for her anxiously since she came after week. “Where had you been Sughra? I wasn’t able to sleep all night. I was so keyed up without you.” Sughra didn’t reply him and went into the room of her Mistress. She had fallen prey to the evil eyes of the Land owner and was sexually harassed the moment she entered into his house. She complained of adulterous behavior of the land owner to her husband several times, but to no avail since the Landowner was doing all this with the consent of her Husband. Sughra’s husband kept extracting money and other incentives for this favor and Sughra had to pay price for it. “You dumb woman! Try to lure him as much as possible. The landowner is our Lord. He has given us land to work and we get crops every year so that you and your herds eat it!”

One day Sughra fell ill and sent her 13 year old daughter Sassi in her place to work in the house of land owner. Sassi was a cute girl and innocence spilt out of her face. She wrapped herself in a long scarf  given by her mother. Sassi knew she was going to the house of the land owner, the house of predator who always cast ravenous eye on the prey. “My mother is ill. She sent me here to do the housework.” Sassi, knuckling her fingers, told the land owner at the door of house in one breath.

The following day, when Sughra resumed charge of work, the Landowner asked her of Sassi. This time he was pretending to be nice with Sughra. “Sughra! You better take rest! Look how pale your skin is! Why don’t you go to the city for a check up? I will give you money. Don’t you worry about the work. Sassi is good at work and she has managed well to handle the affairs. Your husband always quarrels with you. You ought to give him time and serve him at home.”

Sughra sensed the odious intent of the landowner and reprimanded him severely to keep away from Sassi “You are such a shameless creature. For God sake, spare that little girl. You male creatures have nothing to do except this. You have a one-track mind! Don’t you feed with this ever!”

The Landowner smiled cunningly and said “The thing is that I am fed up with you and your body smell. You stink like stale meat!” 

The words of the Land owner echoed all the time in Sughra’s ears. She apprised her husband of the cunning intention of the landowner. Her husband was perplexed after knowing this. He was not worried of their daughter’s honour being disgraced, but wondered how best he could strike deals with the Landowner. He had already agreed to give Sassi off to a relative’s son for a high price... what more could he offer the Landowner?

The story of Sughra is the true story of women leading a miserable life under the influence of a male chauvinist society, of poor classes, where women are dehumanized and treated like objects. The daughter of eve has always been in state of wretchedness but behind every clouds there is silver lining. We want to see women like a “Marvi”, the Heroin of Sindhi folklore who resisted the tyrant ruler of Sindh, Umer. She was unshaken in her resolve.
“I have survived with the hope that one day the prison walls around me will crumble and I shall again be free.”

By Ashfaq Siyal