𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐎𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭, 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝟏𝟔 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐚 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝.
When I was 17, I made my own version of TIME for my mother’s 40th birthday and went to the printer in F7 Markaz to get it printed and bound. I filled it with all of my favorite photos of her, and to date, I think it’s her favorite present from me. She was, and always will be, my Person of the Year. However, I could never have imagined that one day I would see my own name and photo on the pages of TIME. I am deeply grateful for this honor. Thank you to @time and @lucyfeld
I also want to thank @ahsanjehangirkhan my lawyer in the period tax petition for all his work hard and dedication and for being such a great ally.
I hope this recognition reflects the limitless potential of Pakistani women that we can reach any height we aspire to. While there is still a long journey ahead in ensuring equal opportunities for all, moments like this remind us of how far we have come and how much further we can go.
I know this recognition comes at a time when difficult news surrounds us, but I will strive to live up to my promise to challenge injustice whenever and however I can, and to use my platform with courage and purpose.
You can read the full piece through the link in my bio.
#TIMEWomenoftheYear
Happy Mother’s Day to the person I owe everything to.
You often joke and say Papa is my favourite person in the world (he is), but what goes without saying is that you are so much more than just my favourite person - there’s no category to put you in. You’re my everything. Without you, there would be no me. There wouldn’t even be Papa as we know him, hehe, because of your role in creating this beautiful family.
This Mother’s Day, I don’t just want to say how much I love you, but how grateful I am for you: how grateful I am to have been born to a mother whose biggest dream was to see me get a master’s degree before marrying me off to some xyz; for all those school nights you spent helping me learn spellings for my urdu or english dictation test while I cried because I couldn’t remember how to spell ‘photosynthesis’ or do a tashree or solve maths equations. I passed all those tests because of you.
Thank you for every rahat bakery barbie birthday cake or all the princess dresses you spent your last thousands on instead of getting something nice for yourself. You were only 22 then. I can’t imagine all the things you must have dreamed of buying for yourself, all the things you wanted to do if you weren’t our mama. I only hope now you spend a little less of your energy on us and a little more on yourself. You deserve it, every mother deserves to be a little selfish - but you mums never do.
To all the injuries of mine that you’ve felt more pain over than I ever did; to all the gut instincts you’ve had about bad friends or places that ended up protecting me; to all the lunch boxes and yummy food you’ve made for me; to always giving me a space with no judgement (or maybe a little judgement haha) to be myself; and most importantly, for believing in me to a worrying, delusional point (she thinks I’m going to be supreme leader of the world one day) and it’s your faith, your duas, that are the reason I’ve made it this far in life and will continue to go far. You are the smartest, funniest, kindest woman I know. I only hope I can be half of that when I’m your age. Thank you for everything.
Happy Mother’s Day. It’s been a privilege growing up with you.
Cant believe pads and my eyeshadow palette and phone are in the same tax category, but hopefully not for long IA. Here’s some pics of my trip back home + the latest order sheet where I got the chance to personally argue the case at the LHC Rawalpindi
URGENT: 🚨 BARI IMAM ISLAMBAD: 13,000 houses have already been demolished by the Capital Development Authority. 40,000 people displaced already.
15,320 houses are at risk. 50,000 people are at risk.
Please watch this video till the END to understand the legal issue and history of Bari Imam.
Please share this. Raise their voice as no local or mainstream media is reporting this all they have is social media. Tag authorities and media.
Today was the third hearing in Mahnoor Omer v Pakistan, the #PeriodTax case.
My lawyer, @ahsanjehangirkhan , only received the government’s response this weekend, after a considerable delay. We did our best to prepare a response in a time crunch. I landed at 6 am at Islamabad airport and was at the court by 9 am.
We are grateful to the Court, especially Justice Jawad Hassan, for hearing the case promptly and for allowing a major intervenor to join today.
The FBR’s response rests on three arguments: 1. That I have no ‘personal grievance’ and therefore no standing to bring this public interest petition (not as if I’m a menstruating woman who has been living in Pakistan her entire life and been paying this tax), and also PILs do not require such narrow standing. 2. That the judiciary cannot intervene in fiscal matters, even where fundamental rights are at stake, including dignity, health, and women’s equal participation in national life. Again, a very weak argument. We have very right to challenge this law through our writ under Article 199 to safeguard fundamental rights. 3. That the tax is ‘not discriminatory’.
We look forward to the next hearing, which will be very soon. Thank you @ahsanjehangirkhan for working so hard on this case. Truly one of the best lawyers I know.
The Western bloc can only ever condemn its own historical crimes, it rarely seems willing to pay for them. Apologies and acknowledgements are not the same as justice. This historic UN resolution marks a significant step towards calling for reparations for the transatlantic slave trade, one of the greatest and most enduring injustices in modern history. For centuries, millions were exploited, displaced and dehumanised, and the economic foundations of much of the modern world were built on that suffering.
The consequences of the slave trade did not end with abolition; they continue to shape global inequalities today. Shame on all those who chose to abstain, and especially those who voted no. (Pakistan voted in favour of the resolution, just fyi)
No constitutional rights for minorities it seem. Even the police is scared of the extremist fundos, an FIR will be lodged against an Ahmadi person praying inside his or her home faster than an FIR is lodged against a rapist. The worst crime in Pakistan? Being a non-Muslim.
I wrote this article last year on our state’s complicity in the killing and the social death, of the Ahmadi community. But it is just as relevant now, with reports of the police unlawfully entering Ahmadi community members’ homes and places of worship to ensure that no Eid prayers are taking place.
I am NOT saying Ahmadis are Muslims, so do not come at me with your pitchforks. I am saying they are subjected to a worse fate than other minorities in Pakistan. The Islam that all of you, with your pitchfork, herd-mentality hatred, are preaching is not accurate.
What one does within the four walls of their own PRIVATE property is none of your business. Let it remain a matter between them and God. You people have no right to play judge, jury, and executioner. The police’s actions go against many Supreme Court judgements that have affirmed the Ahmadi community’s right to practice their religion peacefully within the confines of their properties.
So great to hear you speak today about your new book @fbhutto - I not only find your take on politics refreshing, brave and honest, but also really value your vulnerability in the reflections you’ve shared about your personal life. Everyone should read ‘The Hour of the Wolf: A Memoir’
