China Covid protests
PUBLIC protests are rare in China where the People’s Republic maintains order through a strict authoritarian code that frowns upon any display of dissent. However, the harsh Covid-19-related lockdowns, part of the ‘zero Covid’ policy, have apparently sparked a large number of demonstrations across China, crossing geographical boundaries. China’s measures to contain Covid are amongst the toughest in the world, and after several years of intermittent lockdowns and restrictions, people’s patience with the strict measures seems to be running thin. The trigger for the latest wave of protests appears to be a fire in the city of Urumqi which resulted in at least 10 deaths. According to the Western press — Chinese media has been silent over the protests — the tragedy was exacerbated by a reportedly inadequate response by officials, apparently due to the lockdowns in place. The Chinese state denies this was the case. Earlier in Zhengzhou, workers at an iPhone plant confronted police ostensibly due to harsh anti-Covid measures. The state has moved to remove all mention of the protests from social media, while as per foreign media, security agents are confronting those who attended the demonstrations.
While the zero Covid policy has been successful in keeping fatalities low, it has come at a high price, as people’s routines have been severely curtailed. It seems the Urumqi incident was the last straw, and the protests are a manifestation of pent-up frustration. In order to prevent the issue from flaring up, China should revisit its stringent anti-Covid measures; already, there are reports that officials are easing lockdowns, which is a welcome sign. Moreover, people need to be allowed to express their feelings, and using severe methods to quell protests may result in short-term peace, but long-term discontent with the state. While it would be naïve to assume China will allow the type of political freedom seen in the West, the leadership in Beijing should nonetheless listen to the people’s grievances, and not punish them for expressing themselves.
Published in Dawn, December 2nd, 2022
Progressive stance
THE timing of two encouraging developments in the fight against domestic violence in Pakistan could not have been more appropriate, for they come during the 16-day UN initiative, UNITE to End Violence against Women. On Tuesday, the Federal Shariat Court ruled that the Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence Act, 2016, is not in violation of Islamic injunctions. The verdict is doubly significant because of all the legislation passed on the issue in the country, this is the strongest. It clearly stems from a desire to do more than pay lip service to our international commitments: it stipulates practical, technology-based safeguards — including ankle and wrist monitors on abusers — to keep women safe. In a patriarchal culture where men are seen as having an inherent right to ‘control’ women — by force if necessary — there was considerable resistance to the law, including from PML-N’s own legislators. Legal challenges against it were filed within days of its enactment, with petitioners asking the court to strike it down on religious grounds. That the FSC has ruled otherwise and ordered it be implemented properly and rolled out across Punjab could set a precedent for other provinces. As an effective counterweight to specious arguments about ‘cultural values’, the verdict can provide the impetus that women’s rights campaigners need to push for more effective legislation.
The Sindh High Court on Wednesday, while upholding the life term handed down by a trial court to a man for murdering his wife, also demonstrated a keen understanding of the problems that bedevil the prosecution of domestic violence cases. The judge observed that these cases should be assessed through a different lens but that the police lack the mindset, training and investigative skills to do so. Notwithstanding the absence of witnesses, the circumstances of a case — such as in the matter before him on appeal — can provide compelling evidence. The court has made a salient observation: the police often overlook, or treat casually, evidence that is material to such crimes against women, including a toxic home environment that can lead to murder. This lackadaisical approach is also often cited in the investigation of honour killings which then makes it easier for the perpetrators to walk free. Parliament, judiciary and media all have a role to play in changing mindsets, and the verdicts mentioned above illustrate that a shift in approach is indeed possible — if one assigns due importance to women’s safety in the home.
Published in Dawn, December 2nd, 2022
Wayward ideology
INCREDIBLY, former prime minister Imran Khan has now placed the entire responsibility of resolving the ‘deficit of trust’ between the state and the nation squarely on the shoulders of the new military leadership.
Congratulating Chief of Army Staff Gen Asim Munir and Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza through a tweet on Wednesday, the PTI chairman made a pointed reference to an August 1947 speech by Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah to drive home the point that it is the civilian leadership that must prevail in the relationship between the executive and the military.
He added: “We hope [the] new military leadership will work to end [the] prevailing trust deficit that has built up in [the] last eight months between the nation and the state.”
Surely, Mr Khan could not already have forgotten his own role in precipitating this ‘trust deficit’ with his bold-faced claims about a regime change conspiracy and the related ‘Cyphergate’ hoopla? Was it not him who made the claim that ‘Mir Jafars’ and ‘Mir Sadiqs’ were involved in an elaborate conspiracy to oust him from power?
Though he himself may not have directed that insult to any individual specifically, it was clear from the DG ISI and DG ISPR’s Oct 27 press conference that they understood whom he meant. And did he not also allege repeatedly that his political opponents had worked with ‘local handlers’ to realise this alleged conspiracy, which again was perceived to be an insinuation about the establishment’s involvement?
Therefore, while there is definitely a desperate need for the armed forces to detach themselves from the political process and establish a distance from the daily intrigues that define it, it is a bit rich for Mr Khan to be sermonising on this occasion.
He has arguably been the number one beneficiary of the establishment’s largesse in recent years and, one must not forget, sought its intervention repeatedly in these past few months to get his early election.
One may argue that Mr Khan is correct, in principle, in asking that the army sticks to its constitutional role. But his remarks would have been less exasperating had the former prime minister shown any self-awareness when making them.
As of now, it remains unclear whether by ‘bridging the trust deficit’ Mr Khan only means that the establishment should fulfil his wishes about early polls or whether he genuinely wants to do politics without having to worry about his opponents getting any unfair advantage.
One hopes it is the latter, but Mr Khan’s recent words and actions say he desires the former more strongly. Mr Khan cannot have his cake and eat it as well. The Quaid was always clear about his vision for Pakistan. Anyone who claims his legacy for themselves should not treat his words so whimsically.
Published in Dawn, December 2nd, 2022