ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Climate Change Zartaj Gul on Tuesday said the ‘liberally corrupt goons’ should not dare to be the leader and representatives of Pakistani women.

She said the ‘liberal brigade’ had made repeated attempts to distort Prime Minister Imran Khan’s strong efforts towards projecting a positive and progressing image of the country.

Flanked by Barrister Maleeka Ali Bukhari, the parliamentary secretary for law and justice, and Kanwal Shauzab, the parliamentary secretary for planning, development and reforms, the state minister at a joint press conference rendered a clarification to the opposition parties and so-called social media outcry over Mr Khan’s interview to a foreign journalist.

The minister rejected the allegations levelled by the purported critics that the prime minister had tainted the image of the victims bearing sexual violence.

“Mr Khan is the genuine symbol of women empowerment, as for the first time five women parliamentarians have been made cabinet members. Besides, 12 parliamentary secretaries are women, including Maleeka Bukhari, Kanwal Shauzab and Aliya Hamza Malik, who represent their ministries in the parliament,” she explained.

‘Liberally corrupt’ do not represent women, says Zartaj

Ms Gul said women like her were proud to be Pakistani, observing that their religion and culture gave them respect. She said they believe in the women rights that are enshrined in the teaching of Islam. “Islam gives me freedom and liberty and I am proud to have it,” she asserted.

The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government believed that without women empowerment, any legislation and its implementation was futile, she added.

Giving examples of how women were respected and honoured in Pakistani culture, the minister said that in long queues, men out of respect got aside so that women could be served before them. She said Mr Khan was seriously concerned about women and girls and wanted to ensure all possible facilities and protection from facing sexual violence.

After Pakistan Movement, the ruling PTI was the only party that mobilised women across the country, she said, adding that the only precedent was that of the towering figure of Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah accompanied by Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.

“I am a clear example in this regard where from a feudal tribal society I was elected as a parliamentarian and became the cabinet member, which has been possible only due to strong political support and backing of Prime Minister Imran Khan,” Ms Gul remarked.

Maleeka Bukhari said the prime minister’s first directive to the Ministry of Law and Justice was to enact laws aimed at reducing discrimination against women and sexual violence. “You [civil society and opposition parties] cannot decide the prime minister’s priorities for women by just interpreting any of his statements out of context,” she said.

She also highlighted the PM’s directive for setting up special courts under the anti-rape law passed by the parliament, which had never been done by any previous regime or prime minister.

The parliamentary secretary said rape was a non-compoundable and complex offence against the state where the government had established joint investigation teams (JITs), anti-rape crisis cells and special courts under the anti-rape law. She explained that the inhuman treatment meted out to rape survivors in the name of examination under the garb of section 13 of the anti-rape law had been brought to an end, as the section had been abolished. Besides, speedy trial in rape cases had been ensured through the legislation, she said, adding that an anti-rape fund had also been set up to support its implementation. In the current budget, she added, Rs100 million fund was allocated, whereas budget documents also had the provision of additional funding for the purpose.

Barrister Bukhari said the government also passed the Enforcement of Women Property Rights law to ensure its implementation through deputy commissioner and women ombudsman at local level.

“We have taken strong and positive steps for curbing rape,” she added.

She invited all political parties in the parliament to partake in the national dialogue with a bipartisan approach to protect women and girls against sexual violence.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2021