Its Mukhtaran Mai Again

The News, Pakistan

Opinion

Sunday January 22, 2006

By Ghazi Salahuddin

Why is the relationship between the high and mighty of the government of Pakistan and Mukhtaran Mai, that ordinary woman who demonstrated extraordinary courage, so jinxed? On previous occasions, President General Pervez Musharraf had figured in dramatic episodes that involved Mukhtaran Mai as the lead character. Now it is the turn of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.

I refer, of course, to a news report published on Saturday (yesterday) about the postponement of Mukhtaran Mai's scheduled visit to the United Nations in New York. Why? It apparently clashed with the prime minister's call on Secretary-General Kofi Anan in the same august premises. Yes, both of them happen to be in New York at the same time.

According to the report, the lady's visit was put off at the request of the Pakistani government. However, Mukhtaran Mai was not going to the UN to make a speech. She would have only attended the screening of a film on her struggle to secure justice for the abused women of Pakistan. Obviously, the Pakistani officials thought that she could make a larger impact because of the overpowering human interest in the story of her life.

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