O' Mukhtaran Mai by Oscar-Tango


JUNE 20, 2005
O' Mukhtar Mai NEW JERSEY, JUNE 20: Gang raped gutsy rural Pakistani women, Mukhtaran Mai was stopped from coming to the USA by no other person than President Gen Musharraf himself. She was subsequently convinced by government functionaries that her visit to the USA would not be in the best interest of the country and herself. So she asked the US embassy to giver her passport back. The embassy complied and she handed her passport over to Pak government officials as requested. Mai would not let Pakistan's image be destroyed if her visit would do so. So she pulled out, she said. That's the summary of Mai story to date a la media. Behind Mai's aborted visit to the USA is a motley group of "enlightened and moderate" Pakistani-American doctors who decided to politicize Pakistan's women abuse issues in the USA by forming ANAA (Asian American Network Against Abuse of Women). ANAA earlier succeeded in magnifying Dr Shazia Khalid's rape incident as an example of Pakistan's recurring social malaise. Eventually, Shazia and her other half moved out of Pakistan. Latest news is they have been given political asylum in the UK. But Mai still remains in Pakistan. Only time will tell what trajectory her issue will take. For now it seems every body is satisfied they have achieved limited successes in their own scheme of things. Except for ANAA. Saddened that Mai would not show up in their road shows, ANAA has decided to show and tell Mai and her story to the US thru curbside protests, sidewalk press briefings, seminars and video conferencing. despardes.com decided to reach out for the person behind ANAA and chat with her to find out about her organization and Mukhtaran Mai. Interestingly we found that Amna Buttar (& et al) and Mr Pervez Musharraf both believe in "enlightened moderation" for Pakistan. But they differ on how Mai issue can affect Pakistan's image in the USA. While President Musharraf says Mai's US visit will present the "worst image" of Pakistan, Amna Buttar and her US-based organization says Mukhtaran Mai is Pakistan's "soft image". Here's some Q&As between despardes.com's Oscar-Tango and Amna Buttar, who is a Wisconsin-based Pakistani-American doctor and founder President of ANAA: OscarTango28: Ok so tell me now that u think Mai is not going to come to the USA what do u plan to do about the issue Abbuttar: We are having a press conference in NYC on 6/22 in front of Pak consulate and a rally in front of Pak embassy on 6/23. We will go forward with our symposia in Houston and Chicago OscarTango28: How will that help your cause now that u firmly believe Mai will not come to USA Abbuttar: We want to get a message across that we are asking for human rights for all and social justice for all and we hope that (Pakistan) government may let Mai come in the future OscarTango28: Mr Musharraf made it clear on Friday (Daily Times) that he won't let Mai go to USA to "damage Pak image"....what do u say to that now Abbuttar: That is why we are holding a press conference and a rally to let the (Pak) government know that Mukhtar Mai will not damage Pak Image, and that she and ANAA are the "soft" image of Pakistan OscarTango28: Why "soft image"....? Abbuttar: We are about enlightened moderation and Mukhtar Mai has turned her life around from being a victim to an altruistic person who is helping others, and is vocal about such crimes. She gives hope to many other victims of such crimes. What better soft image of Pakistan than that? OscarTango28: I asked the previous question in the context of Mr Musharraf's statement that "....He said NGOs are �Westernised fringe elements� which �are as bad as the Islamic extremists�.....pls comment on this context. Gen Musharraf said Mukhtar Mai, the victim of a punchayat-ordered gang rape, was being taken to the United States by foreign non-government organizations �to bad-mouth Pakistan� over the �terrible state� of the nation�s women. Here's the link to the story: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_18-6-2005_pg1_3 What do you say to that? Abbuttar: I disagree with Gen Musharraf; In Pakistan most of social changes and improvement are brought on by the civil society and it is also crucial to have a voice in the west that will focus on human rights issues in Pakistan to improve human rights for all in that country. To discredit such groups will actually hurt Pakistan and people of Pakistan. OscarTango28: So tell me what does ANAA stand for? Abbuttar: Asian American Network Against Abuse of Women OscarTango28 : And 4anaa.org? (I mean chaar annaa) Is that your website? Abbuttar: Yes, by the time we tried to get the name ANAA was already taken OscarTango28: Why chaar annaa? any special hidden meaning to it....LOL Abbuttar: It means for ANAA OscarTango28: Reminds me of.....chaar anney ka sawal hai baba....LOL Abbuttar: Cyber lingo 4 (for) OscarTango28: ANAA means pride in English no? Abbuttar: Ego in Urdu OscarTango28: So u r the chief of this org? Abbuttar: I am the president and one of the founders. OscarTango28: What is your background?...tell us a little bit of yourself? Abbuttar: I am a medical doctor, and currently working as Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Wisconsin OscarTango28: Were u ever involved in students politics or politics back in Pakistan Abbuttar: When I was in FSc, I took part in student protests against the death penalty for Z A Bhutto OscarTango28: Where did you do your medical from? Abbuttar: Fatima Jinnah Medical College, Lahore OscarTango28: R u still a Pakistani or an American citizen now? Abbuttar: I am now a US citizen OscarTango28: Who else r the founders of ANAA? Abbuttar: Dr Zafar Iqbal and Dr Naseem Shekhani OscarTango28: Is he the person who is presently on J1 visa and working on Indian reservation? Abbuttar: Yes, Zafar is in AZ OscarTango28: Shekhani was president of Dow Medical in Karachi on NSF platform...did he tell you that? Abbuttar: Yes, I know Shekhani was very active in student politics OscarTango28: I do not know about Dr Zafar....what his political background is? Abbuttar: He is from Dow and graduated in 1995 and was very active in politics OscarTango28: U guys always somehow fought for "enlightened moderation" during your college days? Abbuttar: We all did fight for human rights OscarTango28: So u guys seem to be doing these kind of things since school days am I right? Abbuttar: Yes OscarTango28: But how does being American citizens now, you feel the need to reach out to Pakistani issues and try to solve them Abbuttar: We want to help our home country OscarTango28: Have you tried to co-opt the Pak establishment in your efforts to solve such social problems in Pak? Abbuttar: We feel it is crucial to have a western based voice for Pakistani Human rights issues as we won't be restricted by Pakistani government. Current government need to implement changes like repealing of unjust laws, and reform of the police to be sensitive to gender based crimes. OscarTango28: But most legislative facilitators are feudal lords so how r u going to achieve this change? Abbuttar: By creating a global coalition and awareness about such issues so such changes can happen OscarTango28: How many members ANAA has as of now? Abbuttar: We have approximately 500 people in our network OscarTango28: All Pak-American members? Abbuttar: About 60% Pakistani Americans OscarTango28: The rest? Abbuttar: Some are in Pakistan, and others are various nationalities here in the USA. Dr Zafar Iqbal can give you a better breakdown OscarTango28: Ok so ANAA is not just a Pak-oriented org? Abbuttar: ANAA is Pak oriented organization OscarTango28: (I've been told) that ANAA shall put up Mukhtar Mai live thru video conferencing in Houston and Chicago..is that correct? Abbuttar: We are definitely thinking about Houston; I don't know if it will be possible to do it in Chicago. We will try Houston on July 2nd and if successful, could certainly try on July 16th in Chicago OscarTango28: Have u gaged the opinion of Pakistanis and Pakistani-Americans in USA on this issue of Mukhtar Mai visit to USA at all? Abbuttar: Yes, we are getting compliments and support from majority of Pakistani Americans. Some are opposed OscarTango28: despardes.com plans to do a survey on this issue soon..do you mind? Abbuttar: No problem. I would like to see the results OscarTango28: Yes will definitely pass on to your org OscarTango28: So tell me how you fund ANAA Abbuttar: Right now, it comes from personal funds and through friends and family for special events OscarTango28: Have you applied for or registered your org ANAA to receive grants, funds from US agencies? Abbuttar: We are planning to. OscarTango28: Do u have (an) office in Pakistan? Abbuttar: We wanted to show some track record by doing some events and then go for funding. Once we get funding, we plan to open an office in Pakistan OscarTango28: If ANAA is Pak oriented organization, do you think it will not affect your work and views to get funds from US agencies? Abbuttar: No, it depends on the agencies. We work here and pay taxes here, and if our tax dollars can go to Pakistan, why not? OscarTango28: Ever thought about going back to Pakistan? Abbuttar: Think about it all the time, but I can probably be more effective as a human right's activist here than if I was in Pakistan OscarTango28: Do you wear scarf to work or to shopping? Abbuttar: No. I believe in enlightened moderation!

Comments:
Nice piece. I believe that Mukhtaran Mai should come to the US. We all should support this idea. These "neem mullahs" are spoiling the name of Islam and Pakistan. Here many think that the punchayat punished Mukhtaran according to an Islamic law. This should be clarified. Jamil Usman, NJ, USA Mukhtar Mai should not play into the hands of these non-Pakistanis. They are US citizens now. They have no right to look back after switching their allegiance. Jay Ahmed, NY, USA Mukhtaran Mai is the latest person to be in the news in Pakistan. All these under the nose of a government that trumpets �enlightened moderation.� I am also given to understand that the famous Mai will be �air-lifted� soon and �rescued� to a safe haven in USA like so many others in the past. I think Pakistan should have given the lady justice in the first place. Syed Faiz Ahmed, Riyadh Justice to Mukhtaran Mai can only be delivered in Pakistan and not to her in the United States. So stay put in Pakistan Mai and ask for justice there please. Mohsin Hamid, Philadelphia