Islamization of Zia Regime: An Appraisal from Gender Perspective

Abstract

General Zia Ul Haq’s military regime is known, for many for its blatant violation of human rights, hanging, flogging, and imprisonment of political workers. Even intelligentsia and journalists were executed for political reasons during this regime. However, his regime was particularly known for suppression of women rights in his process of Islamization. After deposing Bhutto by imposing Martial Law General Zia took over the helm of affairs of the country on the 5th of July 1977 and remained in power with full autocracy till 17th August 1988 when his plan was ablaze in the air near Bahawalpur. This study is an attempt to analyze the process of Islamization by General Zia, its causes, suppressive actions act against various segments of society especially women. The study is also an attempt to search for the answers to the question “Was his policy of Islamization a sincere effort to implement the Islamic system or merely politically motivated? The response of women against Islamization regarding gender-related laws is also a significant part of the paper. Both qualitative and quantitative methods are used to investigate and research the facts about the Islamization process and the struggle of women against it. The memoirs and interviews of participating women activists, scholars, and other leading figures have also been consulted to fill the leftover scholarly gap. Pakistan is predominantly a feudal and tribal nation with patriarchal beliefs and mindsets. In the South Asian region, religion has always played an essential role in the lives of ordinary men and women, although women have been enslaved and dominated in the name of religion far more than males.