Challenging the Feudalistic Myth (Mukhtar Mai’s Case)

Violence against the women is common in our society but it becomes more brutal and barbaric in the areas where the state institutions are weak and feudalists are godfathers. This is bitter fact that these feudalists become much stronger during the military regime as the state authorities do not bother about their unlawful acts in lieu of its own vested interests. Pakistan has remained under military regime for more than half of the period since its inception and during these regimes only military institutions and feudal bases were given priority by the state in every aspect of life. History is evident that crimes and assaults against the poor particularly against the women always increased during these regimes. The incident of Nawab pur (Multan) back at 1980 in which a woman was forced to walk naked in the village as ordered by the village Sardars, similarly the worst incidents of Mukhtar Mai (Mirwala, Jatoi) and Sawer Mai (Vehari), happened in the military regimes and are like stigma upon the face of the southern region of Punjab Province of Pakistan. During the year 2002, 88 women were caught of honor killings, 56 people preyed to acid attacks out of them 29 women and 10 children lost their lives, whereas rest of them are still suffering and are neither dead nor alive. 422 women were the victims of sexual harassments and assaults including Mukhtar Mai. Apart from these figures, hundreds of other women were the victims of out dated customs like, honor killings, marriage with Holy Qur’an, Wanni, exchange marriages (Watta Satta) and violence at home and work place, Hudood Ordinance and Blasphemy laws. If we deeply study each and every above said case of women victimization, it would be easy to understand that Punchaits (traditional justice committees) are usually found responsible for these cruelties. This self made local institution, patronized by the state authorities, in the name of providing justice at the doorstep, needs to be challenged. In this book we have emphasized on the social and political impacts of Punchait system upon our society. AwazCDS had followed up the Mukhtar Mai case regularly and had organized two fact finding missions, first, immediately after the incident and second after the court verdict. I believe the contents and analysis of this case study will be helpful for the elected Parliamentarians, researchers, scholars, social scientists and other state and civil society organizations for making pro-people policies and development interventions.

Precious Little Difference

I was reflecting back while writing these words that we were very few at the platform of AwazCDS in the beginning and together had envisioned a democratic, progress and enlightened society where opportunities are ensured for all. Could we be able to demonstrate any positive change in this region where we have been claiming for a continuous struggle of human development and empowerment for the last ten years with much bigger team now? I asked myself and the answer was not encouraging. Then I asked myself again; should we underestimate the outcomes of our those fewer efforts made in some selected areas of southern Punjab with meager resources where State structure are playing in the hands of feudal and are non responsive to peoples’ need, where a new born in poor community has no choice except to remain illiterate, poor and to survive in an insecure and unhygienic environment, where customary practices promoting violence, intolerance, inhuman culture and values are more sacred than human dignity and basic human rights, where there is no rule of law and the law enforces are honor grabbers and money looters, where woman can leave the boundary of home for fetching water, collecting fire wood and looking after sheep-herds but not for seeking education, getting medical check up or going for shopping or recreation, where Punchayats (illegal local justice committees) are more powerful than the judiciary and can even force woman to walk naked and allow men to gang rape, where there is a discrimination between a Muslim and a non Muslim at state and social level, where militarization, jingoism and extremism is promoted by subsequent nondemocratic regimes through educational curriculums, where students are not allowed to ask questions from teachers, where civil liberties are confiscated, where political parties are planted in the military courtyards by the strategic minds rather than by the people in open gathering in democratic atmosphere, where peoples, forums and local struggles are declared anti state, anti Islam and anti people, Oh……..suddenly, it struck to me that this was too much to make others realize about where we lived, so I ordered my brain and fingers to stop thinking and writing anymore and started reflecting back what AwazCDS has done in past ten years? A ray of thin light appeared with a statement of PRECIOUS LITTLE DIFFERENCE, yes……..we could make only this precious little difference in our communities that we can present before you to comment and feedback for our learning in future endeavors. One thing that we have considerably realized is that………….we have to go a long way……….a much longer way to accomplish our mission.