The uprising debate between feminists and anti-feminists in Pakistan

For the past couple of years, there has been a rise in the feminist movement in Pakistan. This movement claims equal rights for women in Pakistan. In the past few days, there has been a very crucial debate between a well renowned writer and activist women on a news channel, which led to its extreme and results were curses and personal attacks on each other. 

The uprising debate between feminists and anti-feminists in Pakistan

The feminist movement started in 1906 when women in Britain realized that they were being controlled by the male chauvinistic society. Women had no right to vote, have no personal property and no right in the political matters of that time. So this movement started and as a result, women had been recognized a little bit. The bill passed in 1923 in Britain regarding women's rights stated the following matters.

• Women above 35 five years have a right to own a property
• Women above 30 years have a right to vote

But these were not enough and later after Second World War, the second movement of feminism raised by different poets and writers like Betty Friedan, Adrienne Rich, etc. led to another uprising, In which different maters like the right of abortion, right in political matters were discussed. After the Second World War women came to power considering their past. They had the right to vote, right to abort and so on.

But the question arises that what is the sole motto of this movement. Feminist Movement is about the equality of both genders. Male and female are not different, women should have the same rights as men. These are some of the mottos of this movement.

Feminism in Pakistan

The feminists in Pakistan are very active for the past few years and they organize a march every year, which explores the disturbing matters like rape, child marriage, childbirth, and beating of young brides by their in-laws.

Last year women in Islamabad organized the same march in which they used the slogan of (Mera Jism Meri Marzi) which revoked many religious and anti-feminist organizations. Many people declared this act was immoral and dirty. There was a great debate on the media about this slogan. People who supported this Slogan were fighting People who were against it. Some people even said that this was an agenda of western forces, who wanted to throw religion of Islam out of Pakistan. In short, the matter took fire and it went to the high court of Pakistan.

Women calling mera jism meri marzi after khalil ur rehman qamars abusive talk on tv

The women in Pakistan have been provoked by Khalil Ur Rahman Qamar's Remarks about Marvi Sarmed. Both were invited to a TV show in which the debate took the heat. Marvi Invoked Khalil Ur Rehman Qamar by repeating the slogan (Mera Jism Meri Marzi) again and again. In response, Khalil ur Rehman Qamar burst with anger and used abusive language against Marvi Sarmed. Both used abusive language against each other and one cannot say who was wrong and right. But using Abusive language on a live TV show is not very humane and must be condemned.

Women all over Pakistan are chanting the Slogan (Mera Jism Meri Marzi) In sympathy for Marvi Sarmed. They are calling Khalil Ur Rehman Qamar, a mad man who is not in his senses.

People supporting Khalil ur Rehman Qamar's stance

On one side where women had been provoked by Khalil Ur Rehman Qamar’s abusive language towards Marvi Sarmed. Many people are supporting Khalil Ur Rehman Qamar in this matter. They claim that this matter was a stunt performed by Marvi Sarmed for Publicity. She was trying to provoke both Khalil Ur Rehman Qamar and Molana Faiz Muhammad, Which led to this quarrel. Some even say that Khalil Ur Rehman was completely Righteous in his act because when Marvi was talking, he was listening to her very politely and was very patient towards her attitude.

But then Khalil Ur Rehman started talking and even requested to be listened completely. But Marvi started provoking him as soon as he started speaking with the Slogan (Mera Jism Meri Marzi).

One cannot say which side is right or which one is wrong, but whatever happened was wrong and shouldn't have happened on live TV.

People are very angry with the anchor too because she didn't stop the debate and let it happen just for publicity. It is the responsibility of the anchor to stop something like that from happening before it starts.

Whatever happened was wrong because every person should have the right to speak for themselves. The slogan is not bad in its sense because it talks about the authority of women over their bodies. But on the other and using such slogans to provoke other people is also wrong. One should justify what they are saying and then allhis mess can end.

People supporting Marvi Sarmad

As Marvi purely preach feminism, yet she is supported by a few women who are aged and old. The slogan "Mera Jism Meri Marzi" itself questions the objectives of this movement. But the people who supports Marvi are usually those who are called "Liberals" in Pakistan. Although the movement is good and in favor of women's rights if it clearly demands other basic rights for women. The open supporting Women march are Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), PTM, and some other local groups of women. They say that the march is about eradicating the gender differences and biased behavior and attitude of people about the women in Pakistan.

Anyhow, the agenda of enforcing feminism with it's full reshaped form in Pakistan cannot belong to a Muslim woman. Islam has clearly defined the rights of women. No other religion gives as much importance, right, prestige and protection to women as Islam gives. So, the women in march must become good Muslims first. They haven't any knowledge about the rights of women in Islam. If they are deprived of their those basic rights written in the constitution of Pakistan or in Islam, they are welcome to protest and demand their rights.