Women's rights gaining ground in Pak.

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, MAY 5.One of the major achievements of the women's movement in Pakistan has been the amendment in the discriminatory ordinance, promulgated during Gen. Zia-ul-Haq regime, which justified the killing of women on suspicion of adultery or on the pretext of saving the honour of the family.

The ordinance has now been amended by the Chief Executive, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, and the offence now amounts to murder. The culprits are tried for murder after registration of a case against those indulging in such killings.

Speaking at a writers' meeting organised by the Lekhika Sangh here today, Ms. Sadia Bukhari, an assistant editor with the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, said women had also mobilised public opinion against the denial of right to divorce to Protestant women. She said Catholics, who were in majority, refused to give divorce rights to Christian Protestant women, as a result of which they were forced to convert. Conversion automatically got them divorced but these women had to give up their families also.`` Protestant women now have a right to divorce,'' she said.

As far as exploitation of women in the name of glamour was concerned, it was as serious there as in India. However, there was a parallel traditional theatre to strike a balance, Ms. Bukhari said. Changes have also been brought about laws relating to blasphemy. Women writings in Pakistan are bold and they talk about their rights and the way to achieve these.

Ms. Farzana Mumtaz, Urdu writer, said women were an effective pressure group in Pakistan and they have been able to mobilise public opinion on various issues. ``Books and newspapers have played an important role in highlighting these issues,'' she said. The purpose of these visits, she added, should be to improve relations between the two countries.

Ms. Mehvish Hussain, journalist, said the role of women in the present age of information had changed dramatically. ``Women are not only aware of their rights but also know they have been exploited over the years. The problem in both countries as far as women are concerned is the same,'' she observed.

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