January 15, 2013

Woman falls victim to ‘honour killing’

SUKKUR: A married woman was killed allegedly by her cousin on the pretext of Karo-kari in Muhammad Hassan Brohi village within the remit of the Dil Murad police station near Jacobabad on Monday.

According to sources, Jagan Gabol suspected that Rehmat Khatoon, 32, wife of Muhammad Hassan Gabol, was fond of another man in the area. On Monday, Jagan shot her dead and fled.

The police shifted the body to the Civil Hospital Jacobabad for a post-mortem examination. However, for two hours there was no lady doctor in the hospital. The lady medico-legal officer finally came and conducted an autopsy after which the body was handed over to the relatives.

Meanwhile, an elderly man was shot dead by armed persons on Monday in the locality of Bhayo near the Begari Canal within the jurisdiction of the Moula Dad police station in Jacobabad.

According to sources, Yar Muhammad Malghani, 70, was returning from Shikarpur after attending the hearing in court when the armed persons hiding near the Bhayo turning point opened fire on him, killing him on the spot.

The police took the body to the Civil Hospital Jacobabad where it was handed over to relatives after a post-mortem examination. Sources said the killing of Yar Muhammad was the result of an ongoing feud between the Malghani and Jakhrani communities in Garhi Khero.

Dawn

January 15, 2013

Enhanced socioeconomic role of women stressed

FAISALABAD: Speakers at a forum called for enhanced role of women in the socioeconomic activities by equipping them with modern education to face the modern challenges.

The event titled “Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Forum: a Better Planet” was arranged by Government College University Faisalabad in collaboration with Women in Engineering Lahore Section affinity group of international organisation of Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

GCUF’s Faculty of Sciences and Technology Dean Dr Naureen Aziz Qureshi, Home Economics Chairperson Dr Nighat Bahatti, Assistant Prof Dr Adeela Shaukat, DPS Headmistress Shehla Anbreen, Atifa, Saima Parveen and other notables spoke on the occasion.

Dr Naureen Aziz said that women need to change themselves by active participation in the affairs of the country. She stressed the need to remove the deficiencies coming in the way to prove themselves by getting modern education. She urged them to face the society bravely in order to move the country to the new heights of progress.

Dr Nighat Bhatti said that educated mothers are guarantee for a bright nation. If a mother is qualified, she can play a vital role in honing the skills of their kids that will ultimately open up a new horizon of development for the county.

Shehla Anbreen said that school was the base for the every child’s future. She called for promotion of science and technology by giving the opportunity to the students in the shape of small projects. Dr Adeela Shaukat urged the women be confident and work hard for the development of the country. Atifa said the women need to be provided with science and technology education to compete with the world.

The Nation

January 15, 2013

Kainat Riaz slowly picks up the pieces

By: Tahir Khan

ISLAMABAD: Kainat Riaz, one of the schoolgirls injured in the Taliban attack on Malala Yousafzai, spoke to The Express Tribune about how she remains affected by her attack, but adds that her life is gradually returning to normalcy.

Perhaps fearing for her safety, she refuses to comment on who attacked her, but admits the incident has badly affected her life. She cited her constant police escort as one example of how her life is forever altered.

“I was an ordinary girl and used to visit my grandmothers and other relatives but now I am not allowed to move freely anymore. Because of this fear, I sleep with my mother,” Kainat told The Express Tribune in an interview at her home in Swat. A team of police guards have been deployed at her residence since the October attack, who also escort her when she goes to school.

“I could not sleep for several nights after the incident,” said Kainat. She addressed her injury as well, saying, “The injury was severe in the beginning. I am ok now after the treatment.”

Asked if she continued studying after being shifted home from the hospital, she said, “Yes. I continued to study at home. My father and brother helped me.”

She added that she has not yet spoken to Malala, however, Malala’s father has spoken to her.

“Her father talked to me by phone the day I briefly went to school. He told me to arrange a telephone conversation between me and Malala but it has not yet taken place,” she said, adding that she misses her friend very much.

Kainat’s father, Riaz, told The Express Tribune that Malala had called her friends and teachers at the school recently but Kainat was not at school that day. Kainat was happy to receive a gold medal in Islamabad weeks after the October 9 attack.

“Being an ordinary girl, I did not expect that I would go to Islamabad. I could not even imagine that this would happen. What an honour we have received; it is only because of Malala. I offer my thanks to Malala for receiving the medal,” she said.

She avoided a direct reply when asked what she thinks about those who attacked Malala, saying, “My mind says she was a minor, she was emphasising girls’ education. She was campaigning for girls. She may have been attacked because of her quest for girls’ education. The attack was a bad thing.”

Kainat said she wants to become a doctor and to serve the nation.

The Express Tribune

January 15, 2013

Women brave chilly weather, participate in long march

By: Myra Imran

ISLAMABAD: Supporting Allama Tahirul Qadri’s slogan of change, thousands of women belonging to all age groups enthusiastically participated in the ‘long march’ on Monday.

Their spirits were high, as they gathered on one side of Jinnah Avenue reserved exclusively for women and children. They chanted slogans and waved the national flags. The most active among them were the student volunteers.

“Poor people are demanding their rights and we will not move from here until our demands are met,” said Safia Bibi in her native Punjabi language. “We are not asking for castles or big cars, all we want is food, water, gas, electricity and education.”

Safia, draped in a national flag, came all the way from Muzaffargarh. Like many other women, she was equipped with blankets, clothes, food and some basic utensils for the sit-in. Also there was her 80-year-old mother Ayesha who sat guarding the things.

“We are mentally prepared to stay here for an indefinite period. I have dry food with me and some pickles,” Safia said. Some women even brought gas cylinders and stoves with them and were seen making tea. Volunteers distributed Chapatis and water among the participants.

“Allama Qadri is the only sincere leader in the country. His enemies have launched propaganda against him. I have known him for 30 years. He is a Wali, a saviour of Pakistani people,” said 70-year-old Shamim Akhtar, who had deep religious devotion for the leader.

Shamim continuously recited Qur’anic verses. “This is to keep you warm. The chilly weather has no affect when you recite these verses.”Women from Rawalpindi and Islamabad and adjoining areas were also there, as were those from the United States and Canada — all joining the call for change. “This is the change Pakistan needs at this point. The poor are in majority and when they have come out on to the streets to demand their basic rights, the change will definitely come,” said Sehr Azeem, a Canadian citizen of Pakistani origin.

Many women from far-flung areas had no idea about their leader’s charter of demands. “I do not know what change he wants. All I know is that he talks for us and he will not deceive us. I am sure he will bring the Islamic system where everyone will get justice. You will see the corrupt rulers fleeing the country,” said Tabassum Ahmed from Bhakkar holding her eight-month-old baby.

“This is the first time I have participated in any procession. I am prepared to stay here for as long as our demands are met. This is our country, not a place for Asif Zardari, Nawaz Sharif and others to loot this land. We voted for them hoping they would do good governance and solve our problems but they did nothing,” said Tabassum.

Tabassum had brought along her two sons — Hassan, 13, and Saeed, 8. “We are not afraid of bomb blasts. We all have to die one day, even Rehman Malik will go. They cannot discourage us by warning of terror attacks,” said Hassan. “All I want is food for my family and education for my brothers and sisters and me.”

Girl volunteers, wearing green caps and holding batons, lined up around the women’s section. “We have more than 200 girls responsible for security. Their duty is to keep an eye on the participants and not let anyone destroy the public property,” said Hina Ameen, a local volunteer.

Head of volunteers Shakira Chaudhry said there were around 12,000 women volunteers from all over the country for this march. “We have security, discipline and administrative committees. The administrative volunteers are looking after the supply of food and other basic needs of the participants whereas the discipline committee is responsible for ensuring they stay disciplined.”

Shakira said the traders had allowed them to use their washrooms whereas some have been temporarily set up.A special enclosure for old women was also there, just in case someone fell sick. “All participants were told to bring blankets, food and clothes along. We also have our own supply which will be provided to make them as comfortable as possible,” she added.

The News

January 15, 2013

What it means to be a woman in Karachi

By: RABEYA JAWAID

IT has been two years since I have been to Pakistan. There is a longing to go back; it is as if the smell of rain, pakoras and chai beckon me to my motherland. Yet, I undergo a feeling of intense fear every time the thought of going back recurs.

Growing up in a posh area of the city of Karachi as a girl was a bittersweet experience. On the one side, I was expected to be the glamorous hip girl going to parties in Defence, and, on the other, I was the frightened girl dodging bullets as I made my way to my grandmother’s house in Gulshan-i-Iqbal. Looking back at it now, it seems as if I lived two entirely different lives. I remember the striking contrast between the environment inside homes and outside on the streets.

Today, violence is blaring in the faces of moderate Karachiites. It is still hard to imagine: how did it get so bad? It seems while we were living our perfect lives, with our one-dish parties and fine dining at restaurants, the world outside was gradually changing. Deaths were taking place in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region, and there was a war going on in Swat. But Karachiites were not affected by it.

However, the deaths have come closer. They are no longer detached from us; they are happening to people within our community; people we actually know. The recent killing of Shahzeb Khan seems to have jolted the youths of Karachi who now realise that it can happen to any of us.

We hear of five to 10 targeted deaths every week on an average in Karachi. Violence seems to be going out of hand. In addition to the already-present fear, Interior Minister Rahman Malik says that attacks would be carried out in Karachi during Jumma prayers and bans the use of mobile phones, thrusting us back into the seventh century. How can an ordinary civilian survive without a mobile phone in Karachi? It is beyond my comprehension.

There seems to be no end to the troubles.

A girl was recently gang-raped and dumped naked on the sidewalk in Delhi. Hundreds of sexual assaults and rape cases in Karachi go unreported every month. Let’s be honest: I have had my bottom groped at least six times when I was in Karachi, and this was all before I turned 14 while living in Defence. I cannot imagine what girls living in other localities of Karachi have to go through every day.

The Taliban have started targeting specific women that it deems harmful to its beliefs and preaching. Recently six women volunteers were murdered in cold blood by the Taliban in different cities of the country. The attack on Malala Yousufzai highlights the tactics that the Taliban are now employing: the targeting of young female activists. Young women who dare to raise their voices have become a threat to them, and the only way they can keep blocking any sort of change from taking place is to eliminate these specific women activists.

Yes, I am scared to return. I do not know what my fate will be when I return to volunteer for an NGO in Karachi this summer. I do not know how many more assaults I will experience, or how many power outages I will have to sit through. I do not know how many bullets I will dodge and how many more men I will hate. I do know one thing though: growing up in Karachi has taught me to be stronger than titanium. “What does not kill you only makes you stronger.”

Karachiites are people filled with courage and patriotism. I know deep down there is hope for Karachi and Pakistan because its people are committed, patriotic and do not give up easily. The pride and the stories of struggle during Pakistan’s independence in 1947 and earlier by our ancestors are too strong in our hearts to give up on Pakistan that easily and allow the world to call it a failed state.

I believe in staying safe, but I also believe in fate and I know death will come when it has to come. At least I would have done my share to change the world just that little bit when it does come. As Malala said, “No, I am not afraid of anyone.”

Dawn