Growing up as a female in Pakistan means mastering the delicate art of navigating a patriarchal society, where conformity to traditional norms is deeply ingrained. From a young age, women are conditioned to conduct themselves in a ladylike manner, adhering to the expectations of a male-dominated world. A vivid memory from my childhood illustrates the devastating consequences of this societal mindset. A family friend, a kind and dedicated school teacher, was embroiled in a brutal divorce and custody battle. Despite overwhelming evidence of her husband’s abuse, she faced a relentless smear campaign, orchestrated by her husband and his family. This vicious assault on her character pushed her to the brink of despair, leaving her contemplating the unthinkable. This traumatic event occurred in the 1990s, yet, disturbingly, little has changed.
Character assassination remains a pervasive and insidious tactic, wielded by some men and even women to destroy the reputations of females from all walks of life, from the girl next door to the lady politician. This favoured pastime is facilitated by the ease of spreading rumours, the willingness of others to believe them, and the impunity with which perpetrators operate.
Misogynistic hostility against women in politics has a long, troubling history. The rise of technology and online tools has made it easier, more dangerous, and quicker to fabricate scandals against female politicians. However, it’s crucial to recall that the character assault on Pakistani women in politics has its roots in the smear campaign against Fatima Jinnah, a pioneering female politician who faced vicious personal attacks during her career, especially during the 1965 presidential election. At the time, she was running against General Ayub Khan, the incumbent president.
Her opponents spread false rumours about her marital status, claiming she was ‘unmarried’ and therefore ‘immoral’ or ‘un-Islamic.’
The fact that Fatima Jinnah was a highly educated, independent, and a strong-willed woman made her a target of these misogynistic attacks. Despite facing intense character assassination during the 1965 presidential election, Fatima Jinnah dealt with all of it in a dignified and courageous manner.
Benazir Bhutto and her mother, Nusrat Bhutto, faced a similar and particularly disturbing form of character assassination when their opponents distributed fake and indecent photos of them from helicopters. This was a vicious attempt to damage their influence, reputation and smear their characters. Benazir Bhutto largely ignored the personal attacks and rumours, choosing not to engage with her detractors. This approach denied her opponents the oxygen of publicity.
Jemima Goldsmith too met a similar fate as she had to endure intense character slandering attempts when she was married to Imran Khan. These attacks took place in the form of media scrutiny as well as rumours and affronts spread by the political opposition of her former husband.
In a shocking turn of events, not even the daughter of former Prime Minister and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif was immune to the vicious practice of character assassination. It’s well-known that prominent PML-N figures regularly target their female opponents, perpetuating a culture of disrespect and harassment.
The recent controversy surrounding PTI chief Imran Khan’s marriage to Bushra Bibi, specifically the allegations of not completing her Iddat period (mandatory waiting duration before remarriage), reeks of political motivation and is a blatant attempt at character manslaughter. This vicious practice is rooted in misogyny and hate, targeting women regardless of their background, class, colour, religion, or caste. It’s a disturbing trend that perpetuates disrespect and harassment against women, and Bushra Bibi’s case is just the latest example.
This disturbing trend has become all too familiar, with female politicians facing online bullying, smear campaigns, and intimidation. The shocking normalisation of such behaviour is alarming, highlighting the need for greater accountability and respect for women in politics.
It is also important to remember that the use of such tactics, online and offline, is not only morally reprehensible but also highlights the extreme lengths to which some individuals will go to discredit and silence their opponents, particularly women in politics.
Being an eternal optimistic, I still believe it’s not too late to bring a positive change. It is possible to end the misogynistic character assassination of women in Pakistan. The first and foremost step is to bite the bullet and learn to acknowledge the problem and join hands to work toward finding solutions. To achieve this, we need a multi-faceted approach. This will require effective legislative reforms. Pakistan needs to ensure that laws are implemented to protect women from defamation and harassment.
Moreover raising awareness on this issue and highlighting the significance of women’s contributions to society can help change the societal mindset.
There is indeed a crucial need to create accountability mechanism in institutions and within political parties. This will only be possible when men start supporting women, acknowledge and encourage their participation in politics, and stand up against any kind of misogynistic behaviour.
By working together, we can create a more inclusive and respectful environment for female politicians in Pakistan. It is time to break down the patriarchal barriers and promote gender equality.
