Bhutto on family, education and women<\/p>\n
In conjunction with Pakistani Prime Minister Mohtrama Benazir
\nBhutto's visit to Indonesia today, The Jakarta Post reprints the
\nfollowing interview by Femina's correspondent in Islamabad, LM
\nGamieme.<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Question: What is your feeling about finally
\nbecoming prime minister after having faced long difficulties in
\nprison?<\/p>\n
Answer: Every hardship can be endured if one is sure of one's
\ncause. These difficulties and hardships are even more endurable
\nwhen you know that you are not alone but there are millions of
\nothers rising in your support. The workers of the Pakistan
\nPeoples Party went through torture and hardships during the
\nruthless rule of a dictator during martial law. Our masses have
\nsuffered in the quest for democracy but they remained steadfast.
\nMy feeling on being elected prime minister was one of gratitude
\nto the Almighty. I had a special sense of satisfaction in having
\nsuccessfully rid my country of a dictatorial regime. Having
\nrestored a democratic order in the country, I did not want to
\nrest on my laurels and it was my endeavor then, as it is today,
\nto fortify the democratic institutions so that in future no
\ndictator could dare usurp power.<\/p>\n
Q: What does your father mean to you?<\/p>\n
A: My father has always meant a great deal to me. The
\npolitical philosophy of my father and principles for which he
\nstood have always guided me and given me strength during my
\nstruggle for the restoration of democracy. The downtrodden and
\nunder privileged people of Pakistan rallied around him when he
\ntook upon himself the challenge of freeing them from the bondage
\nof a dictator like Ayub Khan. The political consciousness that
\nour people attained during his governance of the country is
\nunparalleled in the history of our nation. The people of Pakistan
\nare still beholden to my father and fondly cherish the memories.<\/p>\n
Q: You were prepared by your father to become a leader. Do you
\never think \"I wish my father could see me now?\"<\/p>\n
A: It is true that my father provided me the best possible
\neducation, but it was not meant to make me a political leader. I
\nwas forced into becoming a political figure by circumstances
\nafter my father was jailed and executed by a dictator. Had he
\nbeen alive today I would not have given even the remotest thought
\nto a political career. I would have rather preferred a career in
\nthe foreign service.<\/p>\n
My father always had great confidence in me and I am sure he
\nbelieved that I had qualities to carry on the political struggle
\nafter his martyrdom. I would like to believe that I have lived up
\nto his expectations.<\/p>\n
Q: How would you like to educate your children? Will you
\neducate them abroad? What is the advantage of getting an
\neducation abroad?<\/p>\n
A: My children are going to schools in Pakistan. It is too
\nearly to say whether I will send them abroad for education. I
\nfeel it is not overseas education alone that grooms a child into
\na confident and mature person. With it should be imbibed the
\nstrength of character and commitment to excellence. It is such a
\ncombination of education and training that puts a young girl or a
\nyoung boy ahead of others.<\/p>\n
Q: Education is to humanize human beings, what are your
\nefforts to educate your people? What is the quality of education
\nin Pakistan?<\/p>\n
A: I agree with you that education plays a major role in
\nmaking people sensitive to the sufferings of others and more
\nhumane in their attitude towards the neglected and the
\nunderprivileged. We are committed to the concept of \"Education
\nfor All\". We intend to universalize primary education in the
\nshortest possible period.<\/p>\n
Under a comprehensive social action program, my government has
\nlaunched a vigorous campaign to increase literacy to 50 percent
\nby the close of the century. We shall achieve this both through
\nformal and non-formal means.<\/p>\n
We intend to enhance vocational education and for this purpose
\nwe are establishing more polytechnic institutions to match skills
\nwith jobs. We are also encouraging private enterprises to set up
\neducational institutions.<\/p>\n
As regards the second part of your question, I would rate the
\nstandard and quality of education in Pakistan as second to none
\nin the developing world. I am proud to say that students
\ngraduating from our institutions have made their mark in research
\nand scholastic pursuits in the best known universities and
\ninstitutions of learning in the developed world.<\/p>\n
Q: How do you balance your career and your family? What are
\nyour hopes and worries for your children?<\/p>\n
A: It is not easy. Most of my time is taken by state
\nresponsibilities and matters relating to the party. Consequently,
\nvery little time is left for the family. But I am quite fortunate
\nto have a loving and caring husband. He understands my position.
\nThe children too are getting used to it, though they do miss me
\nas I do them. But one has to make such personal sacrifices for a
\ngreater cause like serving the people. It gives one a unique
\nsense of satisfaction and fulfillment.<\/p>\n
Q: What does marriage mean for you?<\/p>\n
A: I believe my marriage means a great deal to me. It has
\nprovided me confidence and a sense of security as indeed an
\nenrichment in life that can only be attained through marriage and
\nthe raising of a family. It has also provided me strength to
\npursue my political career with greater confidence and vigor.<\/p>\n
Q: What efforts have been made to uplift the status of women
\nand their role in Pakistan since you became prime minister?<\/p>\n
A: Being a woman, I have a special responsibility towards
\nPakistani women. Exploitation of women has many aspects to it. To
\nlook into those and to take remedial measures, we have appointed
\na law commission.<\/p>\n
I would like to say that as a woman, I can appreciate the
\nfeelings and aspirations of women a shade better and it is this
\nappreciation that helps focus our policies more sharply on
\nraising their status.<\/p>\n
We have taken some concrete measures to ensure the full
\nparticipation of women in contributing towards the progress and
\ndevelopment of the country. Five percent of jobs have been
\nearmarked for women in all government and government controlled
\norganizations. For the first time in our country's history, women
\njudges have been appointed to superior courts and exclusive women
\npolice stations set up. A comprehensive social action program has
\nbeen launched to improve literacy and health care in the rural
\nareas. Women will be the main beneficiaries of the program.<\/p>\n
Because of social and cultural reasons, representation of
\nwomen has been very low in the national and provincial
\nassemblies. We are thus working on constitutional measures to
\nprovide reserve seats for women in our legislature.<\/p>\n
Slowly but surely the women of Pakistan are attaining a
\nposition of honor and dignity in our society. The trend we have
\nset in gender equality through emancipation of women is now
\nirreversible. As a result of these measures, the great potential
\nof the women of Pakistan will surely blossom and ensure their
\ncontribution towards progress of the country.<\/p>\n
Q: To change the people requires changing the law. What have
\nyou done so far to change or improve the status and rights of
\nwomen in Pakistan?<\/p>\n
A: I am happy to say that we have come a long way since the
\nutter neglect the women of Pakistan were subjected to under a
\ndictator. A realization has now dawned that the rights of women
\nbe protected and advanced. My election twice as prime minister of
\nthe country is a demonstration of this assertiveness and
\nawakening.<\/p>\n
A law commission has been appointed to look into laws
\ndiscriminatory to women. We will take its recommendations to the
\nlegislature for remedial action. Fortunately, our task has been
\neasier because the unanimously adopted Constitution of 1973,
\nunder Pakistan's first democratically elected Prime Minister
\nZulfiqar Ali Bhutto, guarantees women fundamental rights and
\nprotection. The constitution brooks no discrimination on the
\nbasis of gender.<\/p>\n
Q: As a female prime minister, do you find any obstacle or
\nhindrance in adopting Islamic practices?<\/p>\n
A: Islam is a religion which has well defined the role of
\nwomen and upholds their rights and privileges. It is not at all
\nrestrictive in nature. It has, therefore, provided me strength
\nand courage of conviction to take on challenges in the political
\nfield. Islam encourages full participation of women in every walk
\nof life, including politics.<\/p>\n
It is not religion but the deep rooted social and cultural
\ntaboos and misplaced values that make the task of a women
\npolitical difficult in countries like ours. I have faced them and
\novercome them with the help and support of the masses of
\nPakistan.<\/p>\n
Q: Would you like to give some message to the Indonesian
\npeople, especially to Indonesian women?<\/p>\n
A: I would like to extend my best wishes to the people of
\nIndonesia. We have a great deal in common. We have a common
\nfaith. Our people have similar aspirations. My message to all is
\none of peace and amity. Whether it is men or women, we all have
\nto work together for progress and development of our respective
\ncountries. All of us have to work for global peace to ensure a
\nsecure and prosperous future for our children.<\/p>",
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