Women's Day observed on the 8th of March internationally symbolizes their emancipation and the journey which they have travelled from totally a male dominated society to a position from which they can make their own decisions of life independently.
It was not in the distant past when even the most developed countries in Europe did not have the right for women suffrage. It was only the prerogative of the males to cast their votes and participate in the elections. But now they not only participate in the elections and hold important government positions they are also well protected against any type of public harassment.
Sadly in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan things are way different. Women are still subjected to public harassment which is a common phenomenon. It's difficult for them to commute easily to and from the learning institutes and their offices and the parents constantly remain worried and edgy as long as their daughters are out from the house. It's a perennial pain which they have to fight with everyday. Not only while commuting but even in the workplace they are not treated equal to their male colleagues.
I being a student of the University of Karachi in the evening program come home late in the night and have to really experience all sorts of insecurities almost on daily basis and it's been three whole months since I joined the University and that according to every sane person is a lot of time to get used to something but Kudos to the public they do everything they can to make you feel uncomfortable. For those who walk their way to and from the bus stops have to go through a mental torture no matter how much they've covered themselves.
It's an irony that we claim ourselves to be living in an Islamic Republic where as we know that right from the inception of Islam women have enjoyed a special position not only in the eyes of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and has variously been enunciated in the Holy Quran but we find the spirit lacking in a Muslim society which we claim to live in for all the wrong reasons.
Time and time again this issue of women protection has come up in various newspapers and many articles have been written to that effect but there hasn't been any real change in the ethos of the Pakistani psyche.