Women in parliament

IN removing another hurdle in the way of convening the National Assembly, the Election Commission has notified the names of 60 women elected to the National Assembly against the seats reserved for them (which is in addition to the nine women elected on general seats). This is the largest representation of women in the assembly in the country’s parliamentary history, and due credit must be given to the Musharraf government for making this possible: it has also created a significant women’s presence in its otherwise controversial local body dispensation. The overall parliamentary presence of women should rise further when the Senate is constituted. The last time there were reserved seats for women in the NA was in 1990: thereafter the quota lapsed and could not, for various reasons, be revived even during the two prime ministerial terms of Ms Benazir Bhutto. When there were no reserved seats, women continued to get elected against the general seats, but their numbers remained negligible. There were only six in a house of 217 in 1997, and just one in the four provincial assemblies combined. The present development is therefore something of a benchmark in terms of both political and social evolution.

However, it is important to remember that many of the women elected come from the already established political families that have made no particular contribution to society’s transformation. Several have roots in the feudal milieu whose mediaeval character is responsible for attitudes and practices that have blocked political and social progress. There are a dozen women who have been elected as nominees of religious parties, and it remains to be seen how they will respond to the need and demand for change. But on the whole parliament should be in a better position to understand and debate not only issues that concern women but also to bring a more humane outlook to bear on matters that affect the daily life of the average citizen. The special committee on the Hudood Ordinance set up by the National Commission on the Status of Women has just completed its deliberations. It should be possible for the committee’s report to be thoroughly discussed in parliament with input from the newly-elected women members, particularly clauses relating to zina that have led to instances of unjust crucifixion of women. Also, women have a heavier cross to bear when people get killed in incidents of conflict and violence, and have a greater vested interest in peace. Indeed, women MNAs may be able to play a crucial role in promoting a more tolerant climate in the country. They are also in closer touch with economic realities, and may be better able to expose the smug jugglery of figures by finance ministers and finance departments, forcing changes in budget priorities in favour of education, health, population control and social welfare.

There are any number of other areas where women legislators may be able to make a significant difference to governance. True, the process of changing entrenched and pervasive patriarchal attitudes will be long and arduous, but at least we now have a sizable women’s caucus in our legislatures. NGOs that have long campaigned for social justice will have a well-marked line of communication with political parties which can be utilized to promote the struggle against oppressive laws and customs. If parliamentary parties give due deference to the views of their women members and include them in decision-making, and if the women themselves can work across party lines on issues of common interest, we might yet have legislatures more responsive to popular aspirations and thus more democratic.

Petty-minded reaction

THE summary sacking of a member of the board of governors of two prestigious medical institutions has raised many eyebrows. Professor Dr Mahmood Ali Malik, who headed the boards of governors at both Lahore’s Fatima Jinnah Medical College and the Ganga Ram Hospital, was removed from his post for publicly criticizing the government’s health policies in the presence of the Punjab governor. Another member of the board of governors has also been removed for supporting Mr Malik. The dismissal of the two men reflects very poorly on the Punjab government, and smacks of a petty-minded inability to swallow some home truths. Dr Malik had faulted official health policies on several counts and his remarks had touched a chord with the audience at a public forum which had cheered the professor. Surely, it is the duty of a senior professional to offer constructive criticism of policies rather than become a mere mouthpiece of the government in such matters.

The action against Dr Malik has been met with widespread condemnation, particularly from the Joint Action Committee comprising teachers, students and doctors currently protesting against the proposed reforms in the education sector. The action is likely to be seen as part of a witch-hunt against dissenting voices in the health and education sectors. Given the issue involved, it was downright wrong on the part of the government to arbitrarily remove Dr Malik from his post, more so in the current climate of mistrust and discontent in the academic circles. A civilized society should be able to tolerate criticism with good grace rather than treat it as an affront. It is time for the authorities to hold a dialogue with the representatives of doctors and teachers and listen with an open mind to their grievances. Victimizing those opposed to the government’s policies can only further foul the already poisoned atmosphere.

Ten deadly killers

A REPORT by the World Health Organization has identified 10 factors as the cause of 40 per cent of the world’s 56 million annual deaths. The risk factors are: hunger, unsafe sex, high blood pressure, smoking, alcohol, unsafe water and lack of sanitation, high cholesterol, iron deficiency, indoor smoke and obesity. Though not in that order, most of these factors are the leading causes of death in Pakistan too, with its poverty, ignorance, and lack of adequate health services. Over 80 per cent of the total infectious diseases, for instance, are believed to be water-borne. Key health statistics also paint a grim picture of the existing public health standards.

According to the United Nations, 38 per cent of the newborn in Pakistan are underweight, while the child mortality rate — 110 per 100,000 — is among the highest in the world. Only 62 per cent of the total population has access to acceptable sanitation — the figure is much lower for the rural populace — and up to 10 per cent Pakistanis are believed to be carriers of one or another form of hepatitis. Fifty per cent of the adult population uses tobacco or tobacco-based products, while the bulk of the well-fed lead an unhealthy lifestyle. Independent sources place the number of HIV virus carriers at 80,000, which far exceeds the official estimates based on the number of confirmed HIV-positive cases. Epidemics like malaria, cholera and typhoid, and respiratory, urinary and heart diseases remain the top killers in the country. While there is a pressing need to address these multiple socio-economic and health-related challenges, one key area that must receive top priority is effective population control and family planning, so that the available resources can be further developed at a sustainable pace to meet the needs of the future.