The government of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), ever since it came into power last year, has been ignoring the cause of women empowerment and development. It appears that not only is the government least interested in working towards empowerment of women, but it also wants to undo the progress made by the previous governments in terms of eradicating gender-based discrimination and violence.
Male-domination in official meetings
The first yardstick to measure progress of women in any government is the presence of women on decision-making positions. Almost every meeting of the governmental bodies and even the federal cabinet is dominated by men and there are very few women, if at all. Recently, Prime Minister Imran Khan's delegation to Davos, Switzerland, had only ONE female representative: Tania Aidrus. No woman minister or adviser was part of this important visit. This speaks volumes about the government's commitment (or lack thereof) to gender equality.
Discontinuation of pro-women initiatives
With the PTI government, an important pro-women project i.e. Chief Minister's Special Monitoring Unity (SMU) and Special Response Unit (SRU) was discontinued. The units led many initiatives such as Women on Wheels campaign, which provides women with motorbikes at a subsidised rate and free training, so that their mobility can be increased. The SRU also had a major role in drafting and subsequent passage of Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence Act which came into effect in 2016. The project's head Salman Sufi was removed by the caretaker government of Punjab in 2018, but it was hoped that the PTI government would continue the projected Sufi spearheaded and won't let these initiatives fail. But the projects have now been discontinued and reportedly the staff working at domestic violence centres established under the Act are not being paid their dues due to which they are unable to serve the victims of domestic violence. The government's disinterest in carrying forward such remarkable projects indicates that they are not serious about implementing progressive reforms.
Imran Khan's misogynistic statements
PM Imran Khan recently sexually objectified nurses when he said that the nurses at a hospital looked like hoors when he had painkiller. Pakistani men don't miss an opportunity to show their misogynistic side but surely the PM should do better? This is not the only problematic statement he made. Not too long ago, he referred to opposition leader and Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari as 'sahiba' (madam) as an insult. This was another statement unbecoming of a PM. But the prime minister does not seem to realise how his remarks are reflective of his government's overall mindset towards women, which comprise more than 50 per cent of Pakistan's population.
PTI lawmakers' opposing legislation aimed at stopping underage marriage
In August last year, PTI MNAs opposed or a bill banning underage marriages by voting in a meeting of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Law and Justice. Underage marriages of which mostly girls are the victims is something no sane person can support, but PTI leaders seem to be among those medieval minded people who think it's their right to control women's body and decide what is best for them. Even among the federal cabinet, the ministers were divided on the issue.
PTI Lawmaker Justifying 'Honour' Killings
Recently, PTI Senator Mohsin Aziz justified the acts of 'honour' killing in the name of culture and said that 'culture' should be taken into account while speaking against killing of women in the name of 'honour'. It is ridiculous how a member of the ruling party justified a crime and faced no consequence. But then again, the prime minister who has the authority to take action against him would be least bothered because as I mentioned above, he does not realise the severity of the issue.
Male-domination in official meetings
The first yardstick to measure progress of women in any government is the presence of women on decision-making positions. Almost every meeting of the governmental bodies and even the federal cabinet is dominated by men and there are very few women, if at all. Recently, Prime Minister Imran Khan's delegation to Davos, Switzerland, had only ONE female representative: Tania Aidrus. No woman minister or adviser was part of this important visit. This speaks volumes about the government's commitment (or lack thereof) to gender equality.
Discontinuation of pro-women initiatives
With the PTI government, an important pro-women project i.e. Chief Minister's Special Monitoring Unity (SMU) and Special Response Unit (SRU) was discontinued. The units led many initiatives such as Women on Wheels campaign, which provides women with motorbikes at a subsidised rate and free training, so that their mobility can be increased. The SRU also had a major role in drafting and subsequent passage of Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence Act which came into effect in 2016. The project's head Salman Sufi was removed by the caretaker government of Punjab in 2018, but it was hoped that the PTI government would continue the projected Sufi spearheaded and won't let these initiatives fail. But the projects have now been discontinued and reportedly the staff working at domestic violence centres established under the Act are not being paid their dues due to which they are unable to serve the victims of domestic violence. The government's disinterest in carrying forward such remarkable projects indicates that they are not serious about implementing progressive reforms.
Imran Khan's misogynistic statements
PM Imran Khan recently sexually objectified nurses when he said that the nurses at a hospital looked like hoors when he had painkiller. Pakistani men don't miss an opportunity to show their misogynistic side but surely the PM should do better? This is not the only problematic statement he made. Not too long ago, he referred to opposition leader and Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari as 'sahiba' (madam) as an insult. This was another statement unbecoming of a PM. But the prime minister does not seem to realise how his remarks are reflective of his government's overall mindset towards women, which comprise more than 50 per cent of Pakistan's population.
PTI lawmakers' opposing legislation aimed at stopping underage marriage
In August last year, PTI MNAs opposed or a bill banning underage marriages by voting in a meeting of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Law and Justice. Underage marriages of which mostly girls are the victims is something no sane person can support, but PTI leaders seem to be among those medieval minded people who think it's their right to control women's body and decide what is best for them. Even among the federal cabinet, the ministers were divided on the issue.
PTI Lawmaker Justifying 'Honour' Killings
Recently, PTI Senator Mohsin Aziz justified the acts of 'honour' killing in the name of culture and said that 'culture' should be taken into account while speaking against killing of women in the name of 'honour'. It is ridiculous how a member of the ruling party justified a crime and faced no consequence. But then again, the prime minister who has the authority to take action against him would be least bothered because as I mentioned above, he does not realise the severity of the issue.