Women Struggle for Legal Empowerment in Pakistan Historical Overview

Abstract

Pakistan is a democratic country, wherein women comprised half of its population. The plight of women rights in Pakistan is not satisfactory, but with the pace of time, the process of legal empowerment for women is in  progression. The enforcement of laws lead towards safeguarding women rights more, which culminated into protection of women in a better way. In this study, the process of legal empowerment and protection of women rights has been evaluated in historical perspective. Women are fighting for their rights since colonial period. After creation of Pakistan, women are struggling for attaining more and more legal protection and empowerment. Laws are the reflection of the values of society.  The military rulers who were always in quest of legitimacy repealed the laws to safeguard  their own interests. which lessened the efficacy of these laws towards protecting women rights. The modernization of the society and awareness among the women compelled the elected Governments to take steps to repeal the discriminatory laws even Hadood Ordinance and honor killings. In Pakistan the lives of the women are governed more by the customs and values rather statutory laws. There are many factors responsible for the poor protection of women rights, lack of education, rigid values system, absence of proper implementation of the laws and complex judicial system.