December 4, 2009

Crippled Justice

As a child, I was not able to play sports due to a congenital heart disease. It was way too much stress for me to take which eventually led to my exemption from sports through out my school years. As my friends played endlessly in the scorching heat, I would sit on the bench working on an assignment or scribbling away on my notebook. It was only natural for me to feel left out of all those enthusiastic chatters about upcoming tournaments, game tactics and the new sports being introduced as we moved to higher classes. Needless to say Thursday was the most favourite day for everyone else but me. With timethough I had finally become more creative with using the free time on my hand. It was then that I met Sonia, who became my best friend in primary school; she had hearing disabilities that also affected her speech greatly. Sonia’s problems struck a chord making me realize that my problem was only a petty one compared to other things people had to face. People who had disabilities worse than mine. I would not even call my illness a disability even though it pretty much felt that way. Not being able to participate in the routine stuff kids my age loved to do, seemed like a lot back then.

Keep reading →

20 Comments

Filed under Published Work

Tags:

December 3, 2009

Identity in a time of trauma

From the moment I entered the exhibit called “Shanaakht” until the time I left, I was riveted. This exhibition began earlier in the year but was terminated in April, given the terrible times we live in. But the human spirit bounces back and so did the exhibition. The Citizens Archive of Pakistan, aided by volunteers, produced a new version of the exhibit. Showing at Karachi’s Imperial Gardens and Clifton Crossways, the exhibition spanned three days in mid-November and showcased Pakistani art and culture. Parvaz was a collection of photographs documenting the life of the Pakistan Air Force from the 1940s and 1950s; Sunehray Sapnay explored the Golden Age of Pakistani cinema in the 1960s, Forgotten Paradise was a collection of photographs of pre-partition Kashmir. All these shows together gave viewers a picture of a forgotten time and a seemingly impossible place. Was this unrecognizable era really a forerunner of modern Pakistan?

There was a fabulous tribute to Syed Hashim Raza, the nation’s first civil servant, along with remarkable portraits by the photographer Amean Jan honouring the resilience and the colours of the people of Karachi. The festival entertained audiences of every class and even had a children’s imagination station. From art lovers, to writers, to history buffs, to children, the festival catered to everyone.

Keep reading →

4 Comments

Filed under Published

Tags:

December 3, 2009

Violence and the virtual world

We should have no qualms about confessing that issues pertaining to women are consigned to oblivion in our society. Often these issues are subjected to bigotry disguised as patriarchy. It’s true that each productive step towards gender equality is met with stronger measures to undermine it. For example, domestic violence has never been treated as a real issue in our society (a recent bill that would have legally recognised domestic violence as a crime was passed over by the Senate). As absurd as it may sound, most public condemnations against domestic violence are silenced by victims’ family members, increasing pressure on women to stay in unhappy and violent relationships. Even the most holier-than-thou, moral people make an exemption for battering. But should women passively put up with all sorts of misery?

Keep reading →

2 Comments

Filed under Current Affairs, Published

Tags: , , ,

November 29, 2009

Pakistan: Take Back The Tech Campaign

Take Back The Tech is a collaborative campaign which takes place during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence (25 Nov – 10 Dec). Its goal is to promote ICT to end violence against women. In Pakistan, P@SH@- Pakistan Software Houses Association- is taking the initiative forward and have already launched the campaign on various online platforms.

Jehan Ara, President of P@sh@, initiated the campaign after holding a small meetup with bloggers to help find ways in which the campaign could be beneficial. On her blog  In the Line Of Wire, Jehan shares details of the campaign and ways in which people can help collaborate.

From 25 November to 10 December, get ready to click your mouse, flex your SMS fingers and engage full energy to take control of technology to end violence against women. PC’s Women’s Programme calls on users of the radio, television, internet,
emails and mobile phones to Take Back the Tech!

Meanwhile Jehan also launched the campaign on Twitter which has received an overwhelming response from men and women alike.

jehan_ara: Let us discuss what legislation exist to fight Violence against Women using ICT and whether they need to be changed/reviewed #takebackthetech

rai_azlan It is well-known that violence often ends when others intervene. #takebackthetech

faisalkapadia: FOR THE WOMEN OF PAKISTAN lets put an end to domestic violence against them #TBTT

Fariha Akthar at Far Quest shared announced the online campaign in a post:

I devoted most of my free time today in attempting to TBTT….yes to “Take Back The Tech!” and it’s going to be so at least till the next 16 days. [..]

We here in Pakistan have planned to run the local TBTT Campaign.(..) We have laid down a basic day-to-day activities plan as well that we will follow mainly to create awareness about female harassment issues and sharing tips on how to fight back this menace.

Rai Azlan at “My land Pakistan” blog discussed the need to highlight incidents of violence against women.

Living in a male dominated society I sometimes  consider myself superior over the opposite gender, it might be the influence of the overall social air. However I believe that superiority comes with responsibility and one can only be superior if the entire obligation toward him is being fulfilled.

[..] As soon as I got to know the importance and the aim behind this campaign I felt like it might be the way I can try to fulfill my responsibility.

Teabreak, Pakistan’s largest Blog aggregator, announced its support for the campaign, calling all bloggers to join in and spread the word.Teabreak is home to over 1200 registered bloggers across Pakistan. Taking up the initiative will help amplify it to a larger audience. More support poured in when “The Laid Back Show“, hosted by renowned bloggers Awab Alvi and Faisal Kapadia, dedicated an entire episode to the campaign in order to help spread awareness and gather more support.


The campaign has triggered debate over the use of social media tools and has discussed cases of online harassment. Lets hope that this initiative culminates into a more powerful campaign to combat violence against women- a campaign that is not limited to 16-days but will last till the percentage of women facing violence declines appreciably.

This post is part of Global Voices special coverage on Ending Violence Against Women 2009
UPDATE: Jehan Ara  has done wonderful job consolidating some TBTT posts at one place http://bit.ly/7oZe2d

technorati tags:

3 Comments

Filed under Global Voices

Tags: , ,

November 8, 2009

Zeyrozabar.com: Contemporary Urdu Website For Women

Feminism stems from a strong belief that equal opportunity; rights and respect should be given irrespective of gender. Unfortunately in the society we live in feminism has always been kept under scrutiny.  It’s considered more of an inclination towards female chauvinism than a struggle against gender bias.

Rana Tauqir

Rana TauqirCo-Founder ZeyroZabar.com, PhotoCourtesy: Uroos Ali

What most of the people fail to realize is that women right activist are like any other human right activists fighting against gender bias. Regardless of the allegations the struggle towards equal women rights and opportunities continue.
Keep reading →

5 Comments

Filed under Ramblings

November 8, 2009

Out of sight, out of mind

ORIGINALLY POSTED AT DAWN

It’s worth remembering the adage ‘justice delayed is justice denied.’ Yesterday marked the second anniversary of the missing people’s case. Amina Masood Janjua, chairperson of the Defence of Human Rights in Pakistan – an independent organization calling for the release of all citizens who have been illegally detained – continues her four-year-long struggle to locate her missing husband as well as the other missing people of Pakistan. Most of them were dragged out of their houses, abducted from offices, picked off roads, and hustled into waiting vans, never to be heard from again. For all intents and purposes, they are gone without a trace.

Keep reading →

1 Comment

Filed under Current Affairs

Tags: ,

November 3, 2009

Waziristan-Neglected hearts and minds

ALSO ON THE DAWN BLOG

Operation Rah-i-Nijat, ‘the path to deliverance’ is the name given to the military operation in South Waziristan. But as the military makes inroads in the tribal area, evoking a spirit of redemption amongst the locals seems to be the most challenging aspect.

As military troops enter a decisive battle in the heart of the Taliban stronghold, over 120,000 locals have been forced to flee their houses. The exodus is not expected to be as big as that from Swat since the population of the tribal agency is nearly half that of the Malakand division. Still, prompt actions need to be taken.

It is important to note that the differences between the humanitarian crises in Malakand and Waziristan are significant, and involve more than just a numbers game. With the Rah-i-Rast operation in Swat, the military was aided by local lashkars in their fight against insurgents who had occupied the valley. In Waziristan, however, the military is not expected to enjoy local support, which makes things more challenging. Unlike Swat, where militants were outsiders to begin with, the Taliban in Waziristan are amongst the local Mehsud tribe, making things far more complex.

For that reason, the military’s fight in Waziristan will have to go well beyond warfare. It will not only be about battling militants, but also winning the hearts of the locals. Keep reading →

4 Comments

Filed under Current Affairs, Published

Tags: , ,

October 9, 2009

Pakistan Army Accused Of Violence: Are We Too Quick To Judge?

ORIGINALLY POSTED AT DAWN

On the news of the IDPs’ return home to the Swat Valley, I had mixed feelings, both elation and concern. The joy of people finally returning to their houses was overwhelming. However, increasing fears of backlash overshadowed enthusiasm and questions about the rehabilitation of these people – along with the need to continue aid indefinitely – were frequently debated.  It would have been naïve to assume that all would be well and good from here. We can only imagine walking into ruins of shattered houses, burned streets, and luscious valleys reeking of gunpowder.

And then came the bodies. Well after the army had wrestled control of the area and declared it a safe haven for civilians, the people of Swat witnessed the dumping bodies on their already destroyed streets.

Soon after the incidents, news reports regarding possible human right violations started pouring in. Numerous allegations were made against the military, with human rights groups claiming that the military carried out extrajudicial killing during the Rah-i-Rast offensive in the valley. Meanwhile, locals and politicians dismissed the deaths as incidents of score settling by the local people against the Taliban. The Taliban had been ruthless, kidnapping, killing, and even decapitating many civilians. The locals of the war-ravaged valley had been first-hand victims of the Taliban atrocities, so it was not inconceivable that they would try to take revenge. With no reporters being allowed in the area for security reasons, eyewitness accounts and suppositions were all that the rest of the country had to go on. Indeed, there had not been any concrete evidence that could back the claims regarding violence by either military personnel or the residents of Swat.

Keep reading →

7 Comments

Filed under Current Affairs

Tags: , , ,

October 2, 2009

Taking on the BLA

A history of revolutionary situations is often the prerequisite for insurgencies. Recently, in many cases around the world, we have seen how movements scatter into spontaneous revolutions that breed a group of leaders who then proceed to organise and conduct insurgencies. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) is known to be one such movement.

The goals of the militant secessionist organisation include the establishment of an independent state of Balochistan, free of Pakistani rule. The organisation is often described as a relic of the Cold War. During the USSR-USA war in Afghanistan, the Soviets supported, armed, and funded the organisation. Over the years, the organisation has claimed credit for a series of terrorist attacks in various parts of the country. In 2006, it was declared to be a terrorist organisation by the Pakistani and British governments. It has also been included on a list of 25 banned militant organisations, which includes organisations such as Al Qaeda  and Lashkar-i-Jhangvi.

Most media coverage of the BLA in Pakistan revolves around the belief that the organisation is associated with and financially dependent on the Indian intelligence agency RAW. Recent increased and widespread activity of the organisation prompted Federal Interior minister Rehman Malik to claim that India was funding the BLA as a tool to destabilise Pakistan. Similar statements have also been made about the Taliban in Fata and the Frontier province, all of which have been dismissed by the Indian authorities.

Keep reading →

4 Comments

Filed under Current Affairs

Tags: ,

October 2, 2009

Minimum Liability

AS PUBLISHED IN THE FRIDAY TIMES

In the hype created by the corporate world the term ‘ the customer is god’ strikes most people as something out of a fairy tale. The corporate sector has blossomed over the past years. The telecom sector, in particular, has grown massively, providing ease in communication. But then again, quite often, use and abuse go hand in hand, I would say it has also revamped the patterns of stalking. At first, we only had to put up with missed calls, now cheeky text messages are the ‘in’ thing. With cost-effective text messaging, this stalking and scamming seem to be taking a new toll. Telecom industries have only gone as far as offering to block a few numbers – only calls and not text messages. The extreme lack of help from the corporate sector leaves one with no other choice but to take matters into one’s own hands. Let us not get wrong ideas now shall we, I was only implying to endless brainstorming to trace down ways one’s number could have landed into the hands of a stalker.

Keep reading →

6 Comments

Filed under Published

Tags: , ,

Older Entries

  • Most viewed