By Asma Hasan

During my sophomore year of college in 1995, I armed myself with a press pass from a small Pakistani-American newspaper and played hooky to see Benazir Bhutto on her official U.S. state visit. Bhutto was a divisive figure for Pakistanis, many of whom viewed her as just another corrupt leader. But seeing her speak at Princeton University that day, I found myself unexpectedly growing proud. She talked about the

reforms she planned, the female police officers the country would hire, the micro-loans that would be made to women’s businesses. She refused to tolerate any criticism of Pakistan, even telling a questioner that Washington, D.C. had a higher crime rate than all of Pakistan (which it did, at the time). The moderator, a white male policy analyst at Princeton’s Woodrow Wilson school, chuckled in delight at her no-holds-barred approach. I saw, for the first time, how female toughness can unexpectedly disarm critics. No one expects a woman, least of all a Muslim woman, to fight back with paralyzing specificity.

After her speech ended, the U.S. Secret Service summarily dismissed every male journalist, leaving me, the sole female, awaiting Bhutto in the hallway. She soon emerged, flanked by additional suited Secret Service agents. She looked just as she did on television: very fair skin (highly prized among Pakistanis), tall, and wearing the ubiquitous headscarf. That head covering was widely believed to be her concession to Pakistan’s mullahs in exchange for their support—one of the things I’d always disliked about her. Walking towards me, she didn’t miss a beat but looked me straight in the eyes; tell your readers, she said, that I’ve come to the U.S. with a message of trade with Pakistan, not aid.

The next moment she arrived at her limo; the Secret Service shoved her in, slammed the doors shut—and they were gone. I stood alone in the space left by Bhutto’s departed car. A phalanx of cheering Princeton students held back by a velvet rope stared at me, no doubt wondering about the identity of this dark-haired girl in the Ann Taylor jumper dress. I held my head up high. Later, when I would defend Bhutto’s tenure, many Pakistanis told me that the reforms I’d so eagerly anticipated never happened; the female police officers were never hired, and the micro-loans for women, with Bhutto’s knowledge, instead went to their husbands. These measures were, at best, sound bites for the West.

Years later, in talking about the books I’d written, radio hosts would comment that I looked like Bhutto. I don’t think I do, but what I think they were trying to say is that we were both forthright, strong Muslim women. As much as everyone likes to complain that Islam gives women an inferior role, Benazir Bhutto disproved that. In doing so, even with her checkered past, she showed me how to shatter the stereotype of what a Muslim woman could be.

—Asma

By Asif Aqeel

LAHORE: The sudden chill in the weather due to the recent rains has not been able to dampen the Christmas fever in the city as the Christmas enthusiasts are preparing to celebrate the event and leap for joy.

Lahore archbishop Dr Lawrence Saldanha said Christmas was the biggest and most joyful feast for Christians. The feast celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ in the town of Bethlehem where he was born in a manger, he said. “Shepherds were the first who were given good news by angels about the blessed birth,” he said.

“Today we celebrate the birth with several festive activities, including decorating cribs in our homes and churches,” he said.

“We also remember the poor, the widow, the orphan and the needy on the occasion,” he added.

Lahore Archdiocese vicar general Father Andrew Nasari said the church would organise a funfair in line with the festival on December 16. “All the money generated from the funfair will be given to widows,” he said, “The grand funfair will be held on December 25 after the church service.”

Cathedral Church of the Resurrection pastor Shahid Meraj said various programmes were being held in Christmas season. He said on December 13 a tabloid in Urdu and on December 14 a tabloid in English would be presented. He said on December 16 a bilingual candle service would be held in the evening.

“The church will distribute gifts among prisoners on December 18 in Lahore Central Jail and on December 23 in Sialkot Jail.” He said the church’s women desk was distributing fruits and gifts among women across the city.

Forman Christian College University vice rector Prof Dr Cusrow J Dubash said the university had arranged several programmes for the faculty and students. “Christmas is all about peace and love that is shown for humanity. Love is everywhere. All we need is to see and feel it.”

Holiday decorations are already out to attract buyers. The St Paul Communication Centre is loaded with all decoration stuff and beautiful books telling story of Christmas. Read the rest of this entry »