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Do politics not concern women? PTI's Shireen Mazari seems to think so

Do politics not concern women? PTI's Shireen Mazari seems to think so

The politician seems to think politics has nothing to do with women's issues — but netizens stepped up to tell her otherwise.
04 Apr, 2022

PTI's Shireen Mazari dropped a controversial tweet in the Twitter-sphere on Monday that left many netizens exasperated — a tweet that relayed the politician's troubling thoughts on the convergence of politics and women's rights and issues.

Mazari took to Twitter on April 4 and shared a post by Aurat March in which the movement publicly criticised PM Imran Khan's actions that eventually led to the dissolution of the National Assembly. "We condemn the political circus that has erupted due to the fragile masculine ego of a person who has sabotaged democratic processes just to save the perception of his individuality and to stage a dirty manoeuvre for his comeback to power," announced the Aurat March on Twitter,

Mazari clearly didn't like the Aurat March's statement. She replied in disagreement, saying that "this [statement] shows Aurat March has little to do with genuine issues faced by women in Pakistan and more with politics and political agendas. Since many here have NGOs funded from abroad this statement, while condemnable, is not surprising. Fact is the US sought regime change and we do not accept it."

Mazari's criticism of Aurat March's tweet clearly left many netizens antagonised. They responded to the tweet, asking why the politician seems to think that women, and especially movements related women's rights and issues, should not voice political opinions.

"Aurat March should have phrased it better but you, as a women in politics should be the last one to tweet stuff like this," one user said. "Do women have no right to [an] opinion on political matters? Or is this the 1700s where politics is for the rich men?"

Many were also tired of "conspiracy theories" being presented as the root cause of every issue in Pakistan.

"Can women not have political opinions?" another asked. "Aurat March is fighting for the social, political, and economic equality. Stop making a fool out of yourself with these conspiracy theories."

Others were disappointed to see such a tweet come from a former minister of human rights. "Not a crossover I was expecting. Minister of human rights delegitimising the women’s movement. Buying into the same, tired ‘foreign funding’ narrative. It’s exhausting," a tweet read.

"Ladies and gents, the sitting (recently ex) Minister of Human Rights in Pakistan has just dismissed this country's most organized/legitimate women-based movement," said one user.

Users questioned Mazari's tweet on the grounds that politics is "inherently and by definition tied to genuine issues". Political demands are an assertion of social and economic needs of citizens, which include women. There should be no separation of one from the other.

In fact, the call for equal rights for women includes the right to be political.

"Behen [sister], Aurat March deals with equal rights of woman, that could be social, economical, political and others," a user said.

People's dislike for the Aurat March aside, feminism has a lot to do with politics, especially since many of the problems faced by women in society have political roots. Women, as citizens of the country, are as impacted by what's going on in the National Assembly as every one else and they have the right to voice their opinions on it. It isn't anyone's call to police opinions on issues intrinsically tied to their lives and concerns as citizens.

Comments

M. Saeed Apr 04, 2022 05:29pm
Even her own daughter is following a foreign funded movement in Pakistan in complete opposition to her mother and out of her control.
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CP Apr 04, 2022 05:32pm
why didnt aurat march stand for Nazim Khokio's widow?
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Apr 04, 2022 05:47pm
She is 100 percent right.
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haris Apr 04, 2022 06:17pm
In our country, everything is deeply politicized and biased.
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Baig Apr 04, 2022 06:22pm
Nothing wrong in what Miss Mazari said.You simply cannot equate "women" with just aurat march supporters.By diving into this political circus the March has shown its partiality and has fueled further suspicion against its actual motives and agenda. An impartial women's right movement should not be making such biased political statements.It is not necessary that people supporting women's rights are pro opposition in this political debate they can also be pro government.What needs to be understood is that this battle is strictly political with no clear right or wrong.However the statement made clearly shows they are appeasing certain quarters and countries.
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Mishayl Malik Apr 04, 2022 06:56pm
Where was the protest by the Aurat March last week when a shame MNA of PPP got away with murder because the widow was weak and vulnerable Unbelievable hypocrisy of a movement supposed to represent women - shame
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Saleem Apr 04, 2022 07:00pm
She's right. We have our own issue but we shouldnt allow western librealism to dictate how we address our socio-politcial problems.
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Ahmed Apr 04, 2022 07:05pm
She never said some shouldn't do politics. He called out the tweet by aurat march. Aurat march doesn't have anything to do with anything. Shireen is right .
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John Apr 04, 2022 07:07pm
Women human rights minister doesn't understand women March .. pakistan is a joke to the world
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Tahera Apr 04, 2022 07:17pm
The political circus, the utter disrespect and violation of the Constituition that is currently going on in Pakistan is really shameful to say the least...
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Zane Apr 04, 2022 08:20pm
So women March socialists think that its ok to topple regimes forced by foreign agendas as long as its not a women in the seat of power or the fascade of democracy remains intact ? They should ammend their position and say we as women also condemn foreign conspiracy if it has occured by male white men! Now that is a neutral position.
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Syed Hasni Apr 04, 2022 08:31pm
I have a lot of respect for Miss Mazari, she is a powerhouse woman, I adore her. I see a lot of material in her hair style, but after what happened to my friend Chris Rock, I want to make sure she is alright.
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Mazhar Zubairi Apr 04, 2022 08:34pm
This lady is embarrassment to nation. Here ambiance and attire negate the values, moral and self respect women enjoy in Pakistan. It is much better then modern world where women is sign of immorality, abuse, exploitation done on them by so called antagonist and non-faith based world powers. She is one of the reason of Khan problems. All these women rights in so called first world is by exploited women.
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F Nawaz Apr 04, 2022 10:18pm
I'm sorry. Taking this line at this moment does nothing for the movement. It's not even relevant at any other time even if the finds come directly from Biden.
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Khan De Bannu Apr 04, 2022 10:19pm
@CP that doesnt cover their agenda! They only aim to convert eastern woman into western. That's it, khalaas!
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tuk Apr 05, 2022 12:09am
@Saleem what is wrong with liberalism??
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tuk Apr 05, 2022 12:12am
She is just doing the boss's bidding to keep her job. Where law minister breaks the law, why do you expect human rights minister to care about women rights!
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JJ Apr 05, 2022 12:14am
Why should feminists necessarily take a political position in favor of the opposition?
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Rao Apr 05, 2022 07:10am
This woman lost a file on list of missing people of Pakistan.... must be deliberate to save Imran Khan from embarrassment.... What human rights she is going to defend.... worthless lady
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Mangesh Apr 05, 2022 08:28am
@Baig Are you serious??? I mean come on.
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Shahzaib Apr 05, 2022 08:39am
So it is confirmed that Aurat march is Opposition and Foreign Powers Mouth Piece
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Queen Apr 05, 2022 08:51am
What has Aurat March got to do with politics? Can someone enlighten me?
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M. Saeed Apr 05, 2022 08:55pm
I think, bad current in the movement of Aurat March brought street slogans in it, for giving it a negative projection. If the posters were prepared with sensible and decent words for the same targets, it would have been a big success.
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M123 Apr 06, 2022 12:55pm
Foreign funded Aurat March is another way of fooling us into believing things that are immaterial to the majority of the citizens of the country including majority of the women who are not represented in this self proclaimed movement for their rights!! What a tragic state our country is in! I wish educated elite could educate themselves about the history of feminism to understand what they are being deceived into!
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