Pakistan prides itself on elite nuclear membership, but needs to end abuse of women

Pakistan should not consider applying for membership of the 48-member Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) till it sets its own house in order with regard to issues such as sexual and domestic violence, intolerance and extremist behavior, feels the Asia Human Rights Commission (AHRC).

In a statement issued this month, the AHRC claimed that evidence exists of thousands of cases of violence against women every year, ranging from rape to acid attacks to sexual assault, kidnappings and so-called honour killings in nuclear-enabled Pakistan, and added that such violence is never treated as a civil rights or human rights issue.

"In a country, where 52 percent of the population suffers sexual and domestic violence, intolerance and extremist behaviours are only to be expected. Pakistan's media reports daily abuse against women: burning alive, burying alive, mauled by dogs, honour killings, acid throwing, and physical torture. While proudly claiming its place in a nuclear club among the world's powerful states, Pakistan remains silent on the growing medieval practices against women and children," the AHRC statement said.

The AHRC further said that Islamabad's priorities can also be judged by the investments it makes in the education and health sectors, as compared to the amount it allocates for defence in the name of maintaining internal security, and the nation's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

It said that when a nation allocates just under five percent of its total budget annually to health and education combined, and a humungous Rs.900 billion for defence, it is no surprise that 6.2 million girls drop out of school from the 8.1 million girls enrolled at the primary level, leaving only 700,000 girls enrolled at the higher secondary level. Similarly, from the 10 million boys in primary, only 1 million remain in higher secondary.

The AHRC claims that the enactment of a plethora of gender friendly laws has done little to change the patriarchal mindset rampant in Pakistan, and offers little or no reprieve to victims of gender violence.

It called for a change in the mindset and effective implementation of the laws and the institutions responsible for implementing them.