LAHORE 5 Mar (Online): The word \u2018ally\u2019 is a new addition to our vocabularies, said lawyer and activist Jibran Nasir on the second day of the Women of the World Festival 2023 in Karachi on Sunday. He explained what it means to be a feminist ally as a cisgender heterosexual man during his session titled \u201cBeing an Ally\u201d.<\/p>\n
In a conversation with high court advocate Palvasha Shahab, Nasir explained that being an ally is about \u201cinternalising certain values.\u201d He pointed out far-right movements in the United States and Europe where anti-feminist sentiments are led by women. In this way, having values of equality and merit makes one an ally.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we have to judge someone, it must be based on capacities and capabilities, not gender,\u201d Nasir asserted. He said most male lawyers commonly tell their male clients to attack the moral character of their wives in marriage-related court proceedings. \u201cWhy do courts allow this?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n
Cognisant of the lack of support provided to women because of their gender, he acknowledged, \u201cWe have to facilitate women since they have fewer resources available to them.\u201d There should be more representation of women and people across classes and minorities in all sectors of Pakistan, he said. \u201cIn the Supreme Court, we finally have one woman judge, in the high courts, we have two,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n
Whenever Nasir is called to any discussion pertaining to women\u2019s issues, his first instinct is to tell them to invite women lawyers and activists. He asked the audience to imagine if they were there to talk about indigenous rights and he was invited to speak when his parents moved to Pakistan after Partition. \u201cLet people speak about their own issues,\u201d he said, indicating the need to empower marginalised groups to talk about their own problems.<\/p>\n
He also highlighted that the backlash he gets is based on his work, not his character. \u201cNo one has called me awara, badchalan or a homewrecker,\u201d he said, pointing towards the frequent character assassination women activists and lawyers face from critics. It is vital for any ally to recognise their privilege, he said. \u201cMy privilege gives me room to work.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nasir emphasised the importance of intersectionality in social movements, saying, \u201cThe solution does not come ready-made, we need to make it tailor-made.\u201d It is important to listen, engage and then come up with solutions that can be context-specific, he explained.<\/p>\n
The lawyer concluded the discussion by underlining, \u201cwe need to be poor-friendly.\u201d There is an \u201celite takeover\u201d happening, he argued, and the only way it can be countered is by being \u201cpro-labour, pro-poor and pro-worker\u201d. By doing so, we can move towards a more equal and egalitarian world.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
LAHORE 5 Mar (Online): The word \u2018ally\u2019 is a new addition to our vocabularies, said lawyer and activist Jibran Nasir on the second day of the Women of the World Festival 2023 in Karachi on Sunday. He explained what it means to be a feminist […]<\/p>\n
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