It Is National Women’s Day And Here’s Why We Celebrate It

Have you ever heard of the National Women’s Day in Pakistan? No? It’s okay.

February 12 was declared National Women’s Day by former Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani in 2012.

This was done to commemorate the efforts of women against the Zia regime. On this day in 1983, several women congregated at the Lahore High Court (LHC) to protest to raise their voice against Haq’s ‘Law of Evidence’. This was the first March of its kind against the martial law by any group. At a time when the masses along with political actors were scared to say or do anything against the authoritarian regime, women took out a march to highlight their resentment against it.

Section 144 of the Penal Code had been implemented that day.

According to Section 144 of the Penal Code, an assembly of four or more than four people is prohibited. Women, on February 12, defied this law and gathered regardless of the threat of baton charge. The police did, in fact, end up using tear gas and batons on women. This left many injured and the government arrested as many as 50 protestors.

What exactly were they protesting against?

The law of evidence reduced the testimony of women to half. This was just one of the many anti-women laws passed during Zia’s time, which impact the society till date. In an interview for the Aurat Foundation, former Justice Majida Razvi said,

“The Hudood Laws implemented during the military regime of Ziaul Haq that wreaked havoc on women and children, as there was no differentiation made between rape and adultery/fornication, and led to hundreds of women being sent to jail on charges of adultery“.

Why does this concern us?

It concerns us because the struggle for women goes on. According to an international survey, Pakistan has been declared the 6th worst country for women in the world. This means that more pro-women legislation is required. Last year alone, the Aurat March gathered a lot of hate from the community because it aimed to provide women with a platform to put forth their concerns. The “me too” movement has also been labeled as attention seeking movement and is absent from larger political debates because issues concerning women are mostly sidelined.

Women in this country have a long way to go. Their narrative deserves to be the mainstream narrative as well and this is why it is important for us because there should be diversity in the mainstream – equal and true representation of the reality on the ground.

Several women across Pakistan commemorated this day with great zeal and enthusiasm because the struggle goes on!

Speaking at WECREATE Pakistan, that supports women’s business startups, on the occasion of National Women’s Day. pic.twitter.com/PkAY2pGrWE
— Simi Kamal سیمیں کمال (@simisadafkamal) February 12, 2019

ASF Pak & National Commission on the Status of Women @NCSWPakistan held a press conference for National Women's Day in Pakistan & launched a Report on the Policy & Legal Framework to counter Violence against Women & Girls, & the gaps. @gdpakistan @EUPakistan #NationalWomensDay pic.twitter.com/rT1in3tcUt
— Mohammad Khan Yousafzai (@IamMohamadKhan) February 12, 2019

Here’s a tweet to cheer you up, ladies!

Happy national women's day women of Pakistan! May we shine and break down structures of patriarchy and capitalism. More power to us. #NationalWomensDay #Pakistan Tabassum Adnan khwendo jirga
— Tabassum Adnan (@khwendojirga) February 12, 2019

cover image via 4to40.com