PESHAWAR: The allegations levelled by MNA Ayesha Gulalai against PTI leadership are being discussed in streets and offices. Before the comments — based on half truths and assumptions — are shared, there is a sardonic and somewhat a devilish exchange of smiles. It says it all.

Women are one the favourite topics of men and especially if it is related to a woman engaged in a male dominated field like politics. Sometimes gossips centre around usually how one once encountered the same lady and instead of the reason of that meeting, impressions about the lady is discussed.

Unknowingly men expose their chauvinism and their deep down gender biases suddenly surface. Ayesha Gulalai episode once again just did that. It mirrored the society’s psyche about women in active politics.

Ayesha Gulalai episode mirrors society’s psyche about women in active politics

By brining it out in the open in media, Ayesha Gulalai may have exposed her imperfections but she has also mirrored ugly scenario of how politicians, political workers and even the public view women in politics.

Let’s assume as many of us do it all the time -- Ayesha Gulalai may be a symbol of all those ambitious young women, who could rise quickly to a stature if they know how to rightly manipulate the weakness of powerful men for their own success, but she may also be the symbol of all those young women, who wanted to join and voted for PTI because it promised ‘change’. It was women, who voted PTI into an overwhelming majority in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in previous elections.

A woman, who was made an MNA without looking much into her political career and maturity, is quickly despised by the same party.

The views of the party and its workers claiming ‘change’ and ‘Naya Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’ shared on social media are not much different from the general perception about women rights activists and feminists in the country.

But not only the political parties, generally men irrespective of their education and status shared and enjoyed jokes about Shireen Mizari, Firdous Ashiq Awan and other women leaders of PTI.

The same women politicians were earlier ridiculed for their physical appearance by the minister of defence.

It also hints at a fact that only women of a certain age and look can be tolerated in politics. Women of younger age are unfit as they can tempt men so they better not allow such “bad” women into politics. The fault is inherent in women not in the ogling men-- that is the general perception of men and women too, who are under such men’s influence.

Now, talk shows male host is interviewing rather cross-examining Ayesha Gulalalai and viewers are having a ball grilling while on social media people are was abusing her though none of them earlier questioned eligibility of the same lady chosen as MNA by PTI.

No one earlier asked a party, popular among women and youth, about the criteria or qualification for a woman to become MNA on a reserved seat.

The reserved seats for women in Parliament and provincial assemblies and nominations of political parties have become a joke. Very few political parties bring genuine women political workers on priority list and reserved seat.

Women rights activists, who were so fed up with the episode that they preferred not to comment on it, had been demanding that there should be at least open contest or election among women on reserved seats to discourage the trend of nominating the blue-eyed candidates instead of deserving political workers on the reserved seat for women in Parliament.

During the last four years, only seven bills have been tabled by women members of the provincial assembly and none of them belongs to PTI.

If women do not take part in politics as voter and candidate and remain meek and grateful when ‘made’ an MPA or MNA on reserved seat — just as Ayesha Gulalai was reminded — then women would remain a herd of sheep.

They would only given opportunity to hold a press conference or talk on party matters when the party needs to show a women-friendly face of the party or needs some extra help during election campaigns. Neither the women agenda nor women in politics would be treated with respect.

Ayesha Gulalai instead of making a spectacle could raise the issue on the forum of National Assembly, take help of Women Parliamentary Caucus or if more serious could have taken the issue to ombudsperson established under the Anti-Harassment Law but reasons for it are yet to be known.

When the truth will finally dawn up people, the falsehood would have already made irreparable losses, a Pashto saying beautifully enraptures this situation. Whatever the reality, the Ayesha Gulalai episode has made politics already tough for genuine political women workers even tougher.

The outbursts have also poisoned minds as people would think hundred times before allowing girls of their family to get involved in politics.

Published in Dawn, August 5th, 2017