Balochistan: No Woman No Politics

Courtesy: The News on Sunday

Empowerment of women is a barometer for development of any society. Over the course of the last few decades, some progress has been made in creating political space for women in Balochistan. However, the composition of cabinet and elections for local bodies indicate a shrinking space for women in the politics of Balochistan.

Acid attacks on women in Balochistan

Courtesy: The Balochistan point

The restive province of Balochistan is always in the news for the wrong reasons. This time it’s the acid attacks on women by masked savages. Last Monday, miscreants sprayed acid on the faces of four women outside a shopping center in outskirts of Quetta. Less than 24 hours had passed and two more girls were attacked with Acid in Mastung district of Balochistan. Both the incidents of barbarity took place outside shopping centers. These brutal acts are condemnable in strongest possible words and the perpetrators can’t be called humans.

Shrinking Space for Women in Politics

Courtesy: ViewPoint Online

The political space of Pakistan has taken turns for the worst over the years. There is an ever increasing influence of Islamists who sell religion to gain power. Increase in their influence means that liberal and progressive elements are losing power, if they ever had any. Political scene is dominated by right wingers, be it mainstream parties like PML-N, PTI or religious parties such as JI and JUI-f. As a result the militancy has surged in Pakistan whereas plurality is taking a steep decline. One of the hallmarks of right wing dominated political systems is always a misogynistic attitude. Same is the case in current political setup of Pakistan where the space is shrinking for the women.