Nai Rahain to give Breaking News of Taliban handing out Justice to Women
April 2nd, 2009 | 
Author: On-Air: Thursday, April 2, 2009 (7:00pm LIVE, 3:00am, 12:00pm (PST))
Breaking this horrendous footage to Pakistan and the rest of the world was neither simple nor easy. On Thursday, April 2, 2009 at 7:05pm when I went on-air with this video, there was a whirlwind of emotions and sentiments raging inside of me. Is this current? Will it negatively impact the already fragile image of Pakistan? Is it professionally and morally correct to shelve it? Are our women being subjected to such beastly treatment whilst we remain completely ignorant and unaware? How will Pakistan receive this? Will it shed light on the February 15th peace deal struck between the local government and the Tehreek Nifaz Shariat-e-Muhammadi? The teenage girl’s piercing screams were echoing in my head from the start till the end of the show. The next day Friday, April 3, 2009, Pakistan and the rest of the world finally took notice. An explosion of shock, rage, frenzy and sheer disbelief ensued.
A day earlier I had interviewed panel of four guests, including the Ameer of Malakand Shahraaz Khan and local government Awami National Party’s MPA Shagufta Malik from Samaa’s Peshawar studios. Gender studies expert and scholar Dr. Rubina Saigol and Pakistan Muslim League (N) MPA Maiza Hameed joined me from Samaa’s Lahore studios. Both my Peshawar guests were in complete denial of women’s rights being violated in Swat, to the extent that Mr. Shahraaz Khan accused Samaa of ‘making up’ this video and doing a great disservice to Pakistan by airing it. Ms. Shagufta Malik was firm in her belief that her government had a solid control of the area and post peace-deal no such events had taken place. They both denied women being banned from leaving their homes or accessing public places, even though my sources confirmed that due to threats from TTP, shopkeepers of popular markets in Swat and Malakand including Bara Market, Sitara Market, Abaseen Market, Waqar Market and Waqas Market had strictly prohibited women coming unaccompanied by male family members. Coupled with this, transfer deadlines extended by the Taliban to EDO Naheed Khan, a female official who has already been transferred from Swat to Malakand due to life threats was also seen as a singular, misleading example of women being prohibited from holding public offices or working.
During the show we got Haji Muslim Khan, spokesperson Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan on the line who went on to endorse Baitullah Masud’s version of what was correct, incorrect, acceptable and unacceptable in Islam regarding the status, livelihood, mobility and conduct of a Muslim woman. He took ownership of the footage, claiming that this girl had committed a ‘grave’ sin and that she was lucky that she hadn’t been stoned to death, only flogged.
As an introductory episode on the status of women in Swat and the break through footage, I would like to say that this show broke my heart as well as left me more disillusioned about the steadily deteriorating fate of women in Pakistan. Either the people of Swat are genuinely convinced that we are against them, hail from a different world with a different reality or else they are living in denial – both the men of influence and the local government. The common man of course if nowhere to be mentioned. The discussion steadily boiled down to different interpretations of Islamic values and morality.
It saddens me to say that even today, the only controversial and undecided issue in Islam remains to be that of a woman.
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April 4th, 2009 10:19 pm
aoa,hope u r fine.madam u r doing good job.but i never understand al dis related to dis topic,aisa kia ho gaya k ap media walon nay shor dal diya,just aik lady ko floging kiya gaya.tou kia ho gaya,arey bibi america n europe mei tou 7 yrz ke bache ka rape ho jata,who tou es tarha highlight nei kertay,ap nay islam ke bat ke tou suney ga,muslim khan nay theek bola k lady kam karay but parday mei,islamic society mei aurat ko kam karnay ke permission hei but in parda,koi contradiction nahe hei,wid sorry ap ko us lady k 34 flogging tou nazar agaye but ap log jo media mei jis tarah samnay ate,in short dresses kia yeh islamic hei,oh ma sweet sister sirf islam ka name lay ker,pakistan ka name lay ker humein detaract na kero,stop abusing islam and pakistan,pakistan k aur b bht issues,kuj nei ho raha swat mei,leave them,dnt interpret islam in wrong way..ap log i dnt knw kia chahtay,just leave aldis,in whole world humara islam bdname ho raha as ap log galat present ker rahey,being islamic woman u should b in viel,fir bat kero islam ke.pakistan ke,meri batain buri lagey tou sorryy,allah je ap ki hifazat karain
April 4th, 2009 11:41 pm
Dear Helima, do you realize what this flogging symbolized? What this can translate into in the future, does that potential threat scare you? Please tell me honestly. Rest assured, I understand that media has the capacity to exploit, ruin and damage. Tell me though, will silence be the best option right now?
April 5th, 2009 12:12 am
Its sad that we have individuals such as Helima amongst our midst, who would rather shove controversial issues such as this under a proverbial carpet in an attempt to save face in a losing battle, rather than have them highlighted and prevented. All religions function under the umbrella of Humanity, and when the latter’s incumbent dignity is breached then it is the right of all citizens of the world regardless of cast, creed or religion to highlight such atrocities and dispel myopic views religiously, and often, bullheadedly upheld by backward societies.
No longer can we be silent in the face of such atrocities and horrific outbreaks. No longer can we ignorantly act as guardians and evangelists of a religion that we conveniently take comfort in depending on our needs. Its time to look past what you’ve been told, and for a change, look into what you’ve understood and seen for yourself. Why be the sheep when you can be the shepherd?
Well Done Meher! Keep up the great work!
April 5th, 2009 11:40 am
Please note the remarks of Mr. Mannaver remarks on sawat incident. Jama e Islami is also a terrorist group favering to terror. The were against the formation of Pakistanb and now become MAMA (thekaydar) of Pakistan. Jamiyat who brout the amunation in Universities of Pakistan.
April 5th, 2009 11:19 pm
These images wont leave my mind, and now, thanks to you, they will no longer be silenced. Whose Islam is this? How is this justice? Your courage in unveiling what was clearly a contentious piece of footage needs to be applauded, as you have forced us to confront what is really happening to the women in this country, barbaric acts like this and the constant raping of our spirits. How can we continue to look away? Kudos to you for bringing this to our attention and calling for some accountability. Brilliant and well overdue.
April 6th, 2009 12:18 pm
Dear meher,
Firstly, hats off to you for breaking what I would term as “shocker 2009″.You took the lead and other followed it up. I know what it exactly takes to air a footage which could create vibes all around. SAMAA should have carried it as a lead news item in bulletins 9:00 pm onwards but to my utmost surprise the channel didn’t play it up. Rather it was only after Dunya TV flashed it next day in the bulletin that other channels picked up this issue. Don’t leave it. Keep it following in your upcoming programs since this marks the start of a hot debate. Are we in for a long drawn battle threatening both our past and future? Today (Monday) thousands of Swat inhabitants have taken out a rally in protest against girl’s flogging (Express Tv reported it exclusively). See if you can do a program on Monday viz-a-viz dissenting voices coming from within Swat. Can we stifle the voice of these thousand people? Can Muslim Khan and rest of the company deny this revolt and keep their eyes wide shut to a glaring reality?
Lastly, take every possible measure to secure yourself for the few next days while moving around.SAMAA should ensure it at every cost. Keep it up. Cheers.
April 7th, 2009 12:06 am
I just wanted to take the time to thank you Meher for brining up such a controversial issue and at least attempting to open up everyone’s eyes (with the exception of Helima). Women have faced many issues indeed and it is sad to see Islam being used as a reason to strip women of their independence. InshAllah I hope this episode does in fact help not just the women in Pakistan but women from around the world! Keep it up !
April 7th, 2009 12:49 am
Meher I do not agree with your last statement “It saddens me to say that even today, the only controversial and undecided issue in Islam remains to be that of a woman.”We would discuss it in detail at some other time.And you should not be afraid from terrorists but afraid only from Allah.
April 7th, 2009 4:12 am
Hi Salam,
Your program is awsome. I like your gestures , body language and overall self confidence. You are simply brilliant in your field.
Especially your wardrobe selection is awesome.
I like your program please dont change your outlook.
Best Regards,
Bilal
April 7th, 2009 3:26 pm
Thought of a Pakistani
Thought of a Pakistani
My mother tongue is Punjabi. My national language is Urdu. I am doing business in broken English moreover, Allah has made my religion in Arabic the language more then 99.99% Pakistani even don’t speak, read, write, and completely don’t understand.
May 16th, 2009 2:12 am
[...] the Taliban actually are. A clip from Nai Rahain’s Pakistani TV talk show is excerpted. Here, Rahain describes two guests responses on her show after the flogging video came to light: Both my Peshawar guests were in complete denial [...]
June 18th, 2009 5:04 pm
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To, Talban (Which are criminals not students), Leadership of Jamat e Islami and JUI (Fazal ur Rehman),
JUI and Jamat e Islami was againt to formation of Pakisnat. They were following to AHRAR, Hussain Madni of Jamiat Ulma Islam Hind (Dar ul OLOOM Hind)
They were cooperating with congress party
The Mullas and the follower of above maintained party are anti Pakistan and should be put them in jail or deport them to their Masters