KARACHI, Sept 16: To commemorate 25 years of its existence as a formidable force, the Women’s Action Forum (WAF) celebrated its birthday on Saturday amid cheers and fiery speeches by its founding members and women from all spheres of life.

A bunch of colourful balloons rose in the air on Faiz’s potent lines raging loud in Iqbal Bano’s voice, “Sub taaj giraey jayen ge, sub takht uchhaley jaayen ge…hum dekhen ge…”

WAF was born when the infamous Hudood ordinances became law during Gen Zia’s martial law regime. The notorious ruling of public flogging in the Fehmida Allah Bakhsh case brought a number of women’s NGOs – mainly Shirkat Gah and Aurat Foundation – together in support of Fehmida and her husband who were charged as criminals under the Hudood law for the simple act of marrying against their family’s wishes. WAR (War against Rape) eventually became its offshoot to deal with zina and rape abuses that soon began piling up against women by men who wanted to avenge their petty feuds.

In her speech, Anis Haroon, one of the founding members of WAF, made a pertinent statement by pointing out that when WAF was founded in 1981, it was an era when women were being singled out for all kinds of revenge and had multiple issues at home and in professional arenas to deal with. But WAF had thought that with time things would sort out and its presence would not be needed after 10 or so years. It is ironic that even after 25 years and many changes in governments, women’s issues have still not settled and we are still struggling to amend the same black laws that had first abused Pakistan’s justice system by a military dictator.

The silver jubilee celebrations of WAF at the Karachi Press Club was a colourful affair of skits, song and dance. Particularly young Sohai’s classical dance, who gracefully twirled to the beat of the tabla and enthralled the audience.

Women representatives from the fisher-folk community also aired their grievances against the government, wicho has not given them due legal cover to earn their living and many of their relatives remain missing – assumed dead – for years when they are captured by the Indian forces when accidentally straying into alien waters.

The programme ended with a folk song by the Sindhiani community. It was joined in by the guests and participants. And again to Faiz’s immortal lines: `Utthey ga Annal Haq ka naara, jo mein bhi hoon aur tum bhi ho, aur raaj karey gi khalq-i- khuda, jo mein bhi hoon aur tum bhi ho.