Re: President Musharraf awarded 'Man of the Year Award 2006’ for 'women rights'
It must be noted that this award was not just for the passing of the Women's protection Bill, but for all the efforts that President Musharraf has made to increase the role of women in Pakistani society since he came to power. As their press statement makes clear - the government of President Musharraf has introduced interventions like 33% reserved seats for women in politics, 5% quota for women in civil services and legislation on Honor Killing.
The following is a list of some of the key reforms that Musharraf made by direct Presidential order, which no previous rulers ever really attempted:-
- Hundreds of women have been elected to the Senate and National Assembly, as well the provincial assemblies.
- Thousands of women have been elected to the local bodies.
- Women have held leading cabinet positions in every Musharraf government.
- A woman has been appointed as the Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan.
- Women have been promoted to even higher ranks in the Pakistan Army than ever before.
- We now have a historic number of women pilots in the Pakistan Air Force.
- "Honor killings" was first declared as murder by a Presidential order, and then legislation was passed to totally outlaw it.