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Issue No. 35 January-April 2011 Founded by Shahla Zia Patron-in-Chief: Nigar Ahmad Norwegian women have struggled long and hard for their rights Women enjoy equal rights in Norway Mr Akhtar Chaudhry, Deputy Speaker National Parliament of Norway, talks to Legislative Watch Mr Akhtar Chaudhry, the Pakistan-born Deputy Speaker of the National Parliament of Norway, was in the country to receive the Sitara-e-Quaid-e-Azam conferred on him by the Government of Pakistan in recognition for his services. Taking advantage of his pres- “The first woman ence, the Aurat Foundation spoke to him about women's rights in Norway, in particular Prime Minister their struggle for political and social rights, and measures taken to ensure their partici- was elected in pation in the decision making process. The interview was conducted by Ms Nasreen 1986, and she was a very strong Zehra, Ms Shumaila Tanveer and Ms Mumtaz Mughal from Aurat Foundation’s Lahore office on 29 March, 2011. Details of the interview are presented below. Prime Minister. She stayed so long Question: First of all, we welcome you to During the half hour recess, when children that, according to Pakistan, and then, for the interest of our wanted to eat their snacks, run around and her, her grandson readers, please tell us about your child- talk to each other, this teacher would make hood, education and family background. us pray, say our namaz. When we returned once asked her: Mr. Akhtar Chaudhry: Let me begin by to class, he would bring a stick, and cane "Grandmother, thanking you for this meeting. I belong to those who had been absent for the namaz! can a man become a small village in Lahore and come from Prime Minister?” an average middle class background. My I am convinced that this man did not pro- father was a teacher and my mother a duce a single namazi, but he was responsi- everyday. So the school instead of motivat- household fell on me. So financial difficul- housewife. I was born in the village. We ble for ruining the future of countless ing de-motivated us! This was one reason ties too proved to be an obstacle in contin- were two brothers and one sister, but my pilots, engineers and architects of the why I did not continue my studies. uing further studies. I did my Matriculation elder brother, who was a lawyer in Lahore, country, because many of us did not return and Intermediate as aprivate student. I was died. My father was a very simple man, a to class after the namaz recess when the Then, my father died in 1976. My elder aware that I was intelligent and could study fact of which I am both proud and consid- chemistry and biology classes were usual- brother had his own family to look after; further, but at times circumstances do not er my identity! I studied in the Model High ly held. We used to miss those classes and the responsibility for managing the permit you to move ahead. However, I had School in Model Town, Lahore, until my a strong ambition to make something of Matriculation, and sat for the Intermediate I joined the Socialist Left Party in 1990-1991 as an ordinary member. Then myself, and so I accepted every challenge examination, also from Lahore. After this, “ that came my way. at the age of 20, I left Pakistan. gradually, I became Executive Member of the local wing of the Party; then of the Regional Executive Committee; and then in 1995, I was elected Member of the Oslo City Council for the first time. My voters were the general public. This Question: How did you decide to go to Question: Why didn't you continue your Norway? studies after your Intermediate? journey continued until in 2007, when I became MP. In 2009 our Party has to Mr Akhtar Chaudhry: My mother was Mr Akhtar Chaudhry: I have a friend, nominate one MP into the Presidium. There were 11 members. One of us would keen that I should go abroad. My paternal and he and I were both very good students. be candidate to be on the top of the hierarchy. There were also people who were uncle (God bless him!) was living in Yesterday, when we visited our school we senior to me. I then had only two years of experience in Parliament. I had 12 to Norway. My mother decided to marry me remembered that we used to have a 13 years experience in the City Parliament and 20 years in the Party. In the light to his daughter, and so I joined my wife teacher, Master Fazlur Rehman. He was a of all this the decision was made in my favour . heavily built man and had a long beard. ” Continued on next Page NCSW, CSOs protest as Mukhtaran Mai ‘re-victimised’ ISLAMABAD: In an immediate Lahore High Court. SC maintained the The National Commission on the The Commission and members of reaction, National Commission on punishment of main accused Abdul Status of Women and members of civil society felt that this was the the Status of Women (NCSW), Khaliq and acquitted other 13 accused Insani Huqooq Ittehad, including reflection of a biased and inefficient Aurat Foundation, Human Rights who were arrested for last six years on Aurat Foundation, Rozan, Sungi, criminal justice system. This case has Commission of Pakistan and several apex court orders. Bedari, Ethnomedia, Pattan, PODA, been a classic example of how the other human rights organisations Mehergargh and SPO convened an facts were distorted and documenta- and activists expressed shock, anger A three-judge bench - comprising emergency meeting to express deep tion of the evidence was tampered and disappointment over the Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan, Justice shock and disappointment at the ver- with at all levels. Supreme Court judgement in Nasir-ul-Mulk and Justice Mian Saqib dict given by the superior court in the Mukhtaran Mai’s case. Some of Nisar - rejected Mukhtaran Mai's Mukhtaran Mai gang rape case on 21 The group expressed concern at the them discribed the decision of the appeals against the acquittal of her tor- April 2011. long delays to dispense justice. The Supreme Court as ‘re-victimisation’ mentors and for enhancement of their victim was raped in 2002 on the of Mukhtaran Mai. sentence, by a majority of two to one. Although the judgment did prove that instructions of the local Panchayat. In Mukhtaran was raped because one 2005 the chief justice of the superior The Supreme Court of Pakistan on 21 In his dissenting note, Justice Nasir-ul- accused did get life imprisonment, court took suo moto notice of the case. March, 2011, dismissed the petitions in Mulk partially accepted the appeals of while others were acquitted. We are Despite the intervention it took more Mukhtaran Mai gang rape case. The Mukhtaran Mai to an extent, when he surprised to see why only one accused than nine years to come up with this apex court concluded the suo motto set aside the High Court's verdict of was punished and others were acquit- decision, which is a source of concern notice and has upheld the decision of acquitting the accused. ted on a charge of 'gang rape'. for the women of Pakistan. 2 Politics in Norway is not based on individuals From Page 1 Mr Akhtar Chaudhry: It was recognition Interview with Mr Akhtar Chaudhry of my services to the minorities in general, and established my links with Norway. and recognition of the services of minori- ties to the country. It may be the recogni- Question: Tell us something about your tion of my 20 years services. I felt that children. What are they doing? what I had done in those twenty years had Mr Akhtar Chaudhry: I have, Masha been done well. Also, Allah, four children. My elder daughter is studying law, while my son has a Bachelor's After the King, the Speaker comes next in degree in Business Administration. The two seniority, so in this way I am fifth in line. younger children are 13 and nine years old. My wife prefers to be a housewife, though I Question: What are the prominent would dearly like her to participate more achievements of this 20-year journey? actively in social life! Mr Akhtar Chaudhry: It is difficult to identify any one thing. We don't have poli- Question: What did you do when you first tics based on individuals. We work collec- went to Norway? tively. We are in power for the last six Mr Akhtar Chaudhry: I did everything years, and ours is a left of centre govern- that a man with an Intermediate degree can ment. I guess our achievement is that we do, and I have no hesitation in telling you have barred the way for the centre right, this. I did different types of work, for exam- and especially the extremist right parties ple, I washed dishes in hotels, worked at from coming into power! We believe that petrol stations, delivered newspapers and we need to work hard for the development also worked as a bus driver. But at the same of our country, and for that it is necessary time I was conscious that I had to find some to empower women. way to reach a better place in the world.. (From L to R) Mr Akhtar Chaudhry, Deputy Speaker of the National Parliament of Norway, with the interview panelists Ms Shumaila Tanveer, Ms Nasreen Zehra and We have a Law of Equality that ensures The great historian Toynbee once said that Ms Mumtaz Mughal from Aurat Foundation’s Lahore office on 29 March, 2011.

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