These days whenever the issue of women’s rights is discussed, the first name that springs to mind is Mukhtaran Mai
THE purpose of observing the International Women’s Day annually is to reflect on the progress made with regard to the challenges facing women in the world and to take into consideration future steps to enhance their status. While the theme of this year’s women’s day was Gender Equality Beyond 2005, the court’s decision of the Meerawala case influenced all activities in the local scene, with Mukhtaran Mai dominating the day in Pakistan. Women activists from various human rights groups and civil society organizations supported Mai, who, rather than seeing herself as a victim, has decided to explore other options.
Apart from the walks, talks and seminars, an innovative way to educate society regarding honour killings was a poster exhibition held at the Nomad Gallery. The display was a powerful reflection of the impact of such practices on the minds of young people. The display, ‘we can end honour killing’, signified violence and blood.
Publicly and politically, women occupy more space than they ever did in Pakistan, but at the same time the number of women who become victims of different kinds of crime keeps on increasing every year. Is there a scale to measure the successes or to gauge whatever we have been able to achieve anything for the women of this country?
The week that followed the women’s day was a busy one for the citizens of Islamabad. Urdu hai jis ka naam, an international conference, attracted several writers, poets and the literati to the capital. The conference, with a very tight schedule of sessions, cultural programmes, book bazaars, and film and theatre festivals spread over five days, kept not only the intellectuals, but the locals on their toes too.
Following the footsteps of the citizens of Lahore, zinda dilan-i-Islamabad also celebrated Basant Bahar at the huge Fatima Jinnah Park. The weather was bright and sunny, and this year Basant was celebrated with more passion than ever. More so, because anyone and everyone could enjoy the day without having to find connections or sources to get invitation cards. The diplomatic community, which made its strong presence felt, participated enthusiastically in the event. The desperation of some people was such that they had started pouring in by early afternoon and stayed over till way past midnight. The day was not limited to flying kites alone, but a was a potpourri of traditional dancing troupes, horse dancing and a musical concert by pop singers and groups like Najam Shiraz, Jal and Entity Paradigm. However, it is very unfortunate that on such occasions people sometimes go overboard and resort to cheap tactics, such as eve-teasing. This not only leaves a bad taste, but sabotages all efforts of the organizers who make desperate efforts to get the fun going and provide the people with a ‘good recreational activity’ in this so-called city of the dead. More police next time, as we seem to be losing our trust in the civilized young crowd of Islamabad.
THE GERMAN CONNECTION: “I came to Pakistan with high hopes. And two days later, the events of 9/11 changed the entire perception of the country,” said Dr Christoph Bruemmer, the ambassador of Federal Republic of Germany to Pakistan, sharing a telephone conversation with a former German ambassador at a gathering of the Pakistan German Friendship Association, a forum where Pakistanis and Germans meet and exchange views on matters of cultural cooperation.
He said: “Before coming to Pakistan, I called up the then German ambassador to Pakistan and asked him, ‘how’s life in Islamabad?’ His reply was: ‘Pakistan is a nice place, we don’t have much activity here. It is a paradise, very quiet. You must come.’”
Regretting the post 9/11 changes he said: “We don’t want you boarding a bus to get to the diplomatic enclave, or us working behind barbed wires, but they are neither our inventions nor our choice.”
He said there’s a need to change the perception of Pakistan. “The best way to improve the image is to improve the product. We don’t need buttons to push, the image will improve itself. The country is on track and Pak-India peace process has a positive part to play in it.”
On the latest developments in Pak-German relations, the ambassador was ‘very optimistic and confident’ that in years to come, these would be strengthened as “Germans are thinking of huge investments in Pakistan.” Last year, he mentioned, five trade delegations visited Pakistan compared to none in 2003. On the occasion, President PGFA Agha Nasir provided with a glimpse of activities organized by the PGFA, such as the screening of films, a jazz concert, a Mazahia Mushaera, Qawwali sessions and the most admired traditional event, the mango festival.
These days whenever the issue of women’s rights is discussed, the first name that springs to mind is Mukhtaran Mai 
