THE University of Karachi is the largest university in Pakistan. It has more than 70 per cent female students in the morning programme. In 2009, an advertisement for evening programme was published in newspapers by the university, saying that “more than 30 per cent students in the evening are females and females are encouraged to apply.”

This year the advertisement says “more than 50 per cent students in the evening are female and females are encouraged to apply.” In the morning programme, 70 per cent are girls, but no advertisement says men are encouraged to apply for admission. In the evening, now the percentage is 50-50, still females are encouraged to apply.

Look at the survey of Pakistan; you will see more percentage of females in primary schools. The reason is simple. Have you seen little boys working at automobile repair shops or at some tea shops? Poor families send their boys to shops for work.

However, girls in primary schools get Rs1,000 stipends from the government, and girls in class VIII to X Rs2,400, while boys belonging to underprivileged families are sent to work.

Think of school violence. Is it not true that boys get beaten up like animals and girls sit and watch them? Do these boys not have any integrity? How many agencies are working in Pakistan working exclusively for men’s rights? Do they get all their rights? If a car driven by a woman is hit by a car driven by a man, obviously man is wrong.

But if the woman is guilty and she cries for help, there will be no one to ask any questions. What if a woman commits a crime in public and tries to run. If a man catches her and if she screams, woman goes scot-free while accusing the man of abusing her.

Vehicles driven by men are stopped by policemen, but women are not checked. Can’t women be involved in crimes and carrying ammunition in their vehicles?

Recently it has been announced that there will be quota of women courts. Is it a matter of gender, or is it a matter of justice.

Remember these courts make decisions which affect the lives of the families.

Is it justifiable to base such decisions on gender quota basis, or should it be on pure merit. Same is the case with our parliamentary quotas.

If anyone thinks I am against women, it will be a wrong assessment. I would like to highlight the propaganda that women in Pakistan are living in some hell.

In the US, women are subjected to more abuses than in Pakistan. Unfortunately, in Pakistan if a woman is mistreated, TV channels create such hype, running the story again and again the whole day.

Are we not beyond equality for women in Pakistan?

MUHAMMAD WAQASKarachi