Generally speaking, this lady is known for her work. Mrs Rashida Patel is the president of Pakistan Women's Lawyers Association (PAWLA) and has also been the recipient of PAWLA's 'Life Time Achievement Award'. She has behind her a legacy when it comes to women's rights. "Our mission is to create legal awareness towards redressing the loopholes/ gaps in the law regarding women; addressing women's legal needs; imparting comprehensive knowledge about law relating to women in Pakistan; and to strive to empower women," informs Ms Patel. Under her wing PAWLA has become extremely developed. It currently strives for women's right, equality and equity by reaching out to women, addressing their legal and economic issues. In addition, PAWLA is delivering professional and legal services, and economic counselling to Pakistani women. It is also actively involved in net-working with NGOs, the government and other concerned institutions. Rashida Patel has always been vocal against what she calls the 'Black Laws'; laws which prevent women from reaching their potential and hinder their rights in the process. "These laws, such as the Hudood Ordinance, which were enacted during the Zia regime and his successors, really impede women's way to emancipation. That is not all, Pakistan is a signatory to the UN Charter - CEAW (Convention for the Elimination of all Kinds of Discrimination against Women), and as such is bound to bring the laws of the country in conformity with this convention - so far, however, this has not been the case. We demand that the government abolish all discriminatory laws and practices against women," she insists.

The problems do not stop at the inadequacy and at times prejudice of the law. Truly the situation is further complicated by the fact that women themselves do not know anything about their rights. On the one hand, the laws have been interpreted in a way to benefit the male and victimize women but on the other hand women hardly know anything about the legal course of registering a case or hiring the help of a lawyer and following a court procedure.

They do not have access to counselling and also cannot pay the cost as they are mostly dependent on the males of their family. When it comes down to the implementation of the law, women do not have a clue as to what they are supposed to do.

Rashida is very critical of the tribal and feudal set up, in which women are looked down as inferior. It is due to this mindset that women in Pakistan are physically tortured as well as mentally and verbally abused. That's why domestic violence is a common phenomenon and has been thriving despite the human rights activists' hue and cry over it. No doubt, there are a number of women in Pakistan who have successfully made a mark in all walks of life be it economically, socially, politically, through sports or anything else for that matter. Many have even gone on to gain international recognition for their work; however, there has been no respite from crimes against women. Instead, the cases of abuse against women have increased over the years. Only the modus operandi has changed. To bring a change, Pakistan must do away with the discriminatory laws, particularly the Hudood Ordinance. As far as the Taliban-style Shariat is concerned, it has really damaged the cause of women. The women in the tribal and feudal setups are already exploited and the Taliban mentality has further added to their woes.

Rashida has also written a book titled 'Woman versus Man,' which discusses legalities concerning the Hudood Ordinance and Zina, family laws, abuse, marriage, divorce, adultery, maintenance of children, contraception and crimes of honour. It is an indispensable guide for lawyers and women. Eminently readable, containing several case studies and real life examples the book is an essential read for all.

Noted Lawyer and human rights activist Asma Jahangir is another lawyer of international repute. She expresses similar views on the status of women in Pakistan. She is the current Chairperson of the Pakistan Human Rights Commission (HRCP) and has also been Special Rapporteur of the UN Commission on Human Rights.

HRCP undertakes activities in the areas of awareness, monitoring, fact-finding, activist mobilisation, lobbying, agitation, and intervention in courts related to human rights violation and deprivation. One of its main aims is spreading awareness about human rights amongst the people. The main idea here is to mobilize public opinion by collecting information and disseminating knowledge about human rights.

"The laws of our country are very discriminatory against women. On the average, over 500 cases of abuse on women take place every year. It is also pertinent to note here that only 10 per cent of the cases are reported while the remaining 90 go unreported.

Judging from these figures it is not hard to analyse the state of women's rights in our society. The cold hard fact here is that all women are not brave enough to speak for themselves. They cannot file a complaint against their family members; most cannot afford any judicial actions against people they call their own. Most of the women are not economically independent, so they wouldn't dare go to court as they need money to hire a lawyer and bear other expenses for the procedure," informs Asma Jahangir, who has been defending the rights of women irrespective of their class and creed for decades.

If and when a woman finds herself in a sticky situation, ultimately she has to learn to live with it. In the rural areas, it is often the case that the family men themselves implicate their women; here the women cannot actually go ahead and do anything at all because they will be left homeless and more helpless than before. It is important to state that over 50 per cent of women do not even have access to lawyers and cannot afford the court expenses. And it is not just the rural areas but also the urban areas which are witness to a number of domestic violence cases such as karo-kari, watta satta, sang chatti, stove burning, and disfigurement through acid throwing and even the practice of marrying women to the Holy Quran.

The HRCP has made these cases a personal mission. Numerous cases of domestic abuse are received by the organisation on a daily basis. Some of these cases also include harassment at the workplace and of women languishing in jails. "During our visits to prisons, we find that most of the women inmates have been implicated in false cases by their suspicious family members. Some of the women even have their minor children living in jails with them in deplorable conditions; these children are under constant risk of becoming hardened criminals," laments Asma. It is these jails which also expose the women to a number of diseases including HIV Aids due to the presence of foreign women.

Talking about the legal front Asma advocates the abolishment of the discriminatory laws against women such as the Hudood ordinance and the jirga system. "The jirga system is based on cruelty where the local sardars and feudal lords can pass verdicts which almost always have a complementary clause ending or destroying the life of innocent women.

Matrimony and the law

Islam and our laws allow women to marry out of her choice. But our social setup interprets it wrong. Had we rightly interpreted the laws then cases of the marriages of Humaira Abbas, Riffat Afridi and others would not have made headlines. There is also shortage of shelter homes for women. We need to provide more shelters to women on the pattern of Darul Aman and Edhi Homes. The irony is that with the passage of time, the women's rights record is deteriorating despite the Government's claims that they are fighting for women's rights and improving the situation.

The Taliban must go

Ms. Jahangir, one of Time Magazine's 'Women of the Year in 2003,' strongly advocates rule of the law, "Rule of the Law is what can guarantee rights for everyone irrespective of one's gender. Just imagine: Islamic militants in the southern parts of the country have set up self-styled courts which have further antagonised women, rendering them further helpless to have access to their rights. Areas like Swat, Buner and Malakand etc have been hijacked by the religious fanatics, who are dead against giving women any kind of rights. The way the girls' colleges and schools were burnt speaks for itself and defines the mentality of the Taliban."

The hairstyle forms one of the most important aspects of one's personality. So, for most of the people, getting a new haircut or styling the hair in a new way seems to be the best way to change their look. Choosing the right hairstyle is very important which suits your face shape and perfectly fits to your personality.

2009 hairstyles are hotter than ever with trends ranging from short and sexy haircuts to long curls. According to ace stylists, "Last season was all about very finished, polished looks, now hair is rougher with a matte finish." Bangs are one of the top 2008 hair styles that's gonna rock 2009 too. They were amongst the must-have additions for almost all the haircuts in 2008 and this year is no exception.

Hair this season is sporty, understated yet confidant, sleek, healthy and ultra-groomed. Short hair is the massive look for 2009. But this look is also organic and natural. However, long sweeping layers worn with asymmetric fringes over one eye and undercut at the nape and sides is also a popular look. The key to keep this look is ultra conditioning and perfect grooming.

For evening, waves are still hot - but worn big and messy. Hair is volumous at the root to give a larger shape, with lengths and ends left shiny and glossy. In any case volume and body are essential for a wavy glamour.

The bob has gone though several incarnations over the years. For summer 2009, the new bob is going to be a popular trend for medium-length hair. It is longer in front and shorter at the back. The hair is softly razored at the ends to create a sleek, modern angle.

The sweeping fringe will also be a favorite hairstyle this summer. This trend cuts hair into triangular layers, the ends of which were diffused using thinning scissors. This technique creates texture, adds volume and gives hair natural movement.

Colour, colour everywhere

One thing is sure and that is 2009 will see more women opting for hair colour than before. As 2009 hairstyles and hair coloring trends gain popularity, more women (and men too) are now using it as an excellent way to make a fashion statement. One can also notice a sophisticated look is fast making its way into the hair coloring trends, in fact, there are very sophisticated hair coloring techniques which make warm and lush hair colours a possibility.

If you change your hair color, it can bring a dramatic change in your personality. If you are looking for something more striking to add to your overall look, then 2009 warmly welcomes red-heads. You can either be a full red-head or just use the colour to highlight your tresses.

The big colour trend is peroxide blond. If you are planning to get blonde colour for your hair, then try to incorporate multiple shades, rather than sticking to just one or two. It will make the blonde colour look natural. On the other hand brunette hair has always managed to make heads turn. If, by any chance, you have black, purple or stripy highlights, get rid of them right away. Go for a light and warm brunette base and top it off with subtle, golden highlights. Slightly darker color at the roots and under-layers will add the perfect depth to your hair.

One of the hottest colour shades this season is red. The base of your hair should be intense, giving it depth and dimension, but topped off with golden highlights. Deep chocolate dark brown is another hair color that you can look forward to. It is going to make you stand out in the crowd. Mix it up by choosing a brown shade with golden tones.

CREDITS

Compilation

S.K

Coordination

Thomas Fernandes

Designer

Outfitters

Photography

Mahi

Hair & Makeup

Honey & Sonu

Model

Dear Nadine,

I am a 53-year-old mother of three children, two of them happily married. My youngest daughter is 26, and is still unmarried. I have been looking for a suitable match for her for the past five years, but I have, so far, found none to be good enough. As a result, I am becoming anxious and extremely short tempered. I keep shouting at my daughter. My daughter is a pretty looking, tall girl... but she is plump. I keep taunting her that the only reason that she is not getting a suitable rishtah is because she is plump, which, to be honest, is not completely true as she did get a number of rishtas, which I turned down because I felt they were not suitable. But I really want her to become thin and more attractive, so I keep on shouting at her to lose weight. As a result, my daughter tries to avoid me. We don't talk much, and she keeps herself locked away in her room and doesn't even eat in front of me. Our relationship has become very strained. I talked to her friend once and she told me that my daughter does want to become thin but she does not try to do so because she is sick of me shouting at her. Nadine, I shout at her only to motivate her to lose weight. I tried to explain to her very softly, but even then she seems to be irritated by me. It seems that all my efforts of trying to make her thin are having a negative result. Do you think I should stop telling her so she can decide for herself that it's high time that she lost weight? Or just tell me what else I should do because I can see that she does not want to discuss this issue with me. I just want our relationship to go back to normal. Please advise me on what I should do?

Mrs. S. Majeed

Dear Mrs. S. Majeed,

Your concern for your daughter's future is understandable. Any mother with a daughter of marriageable age can empathise with you, but the way you went about convincing your daughter to lose weight was most undesirable, and counterproductive. Since this is something you have also realised, we can move on to your next two problems: getting back on a good footing with your daughter, and persuading her to lose weight. Sometimes, we fail to achieve our object because we go about it the wrong way despite the sincerity of our intentions. You can still mend fences by changing your attitude. You have to draw your daughter out, coax her out of her shell with love, patience and understanding. A heart to heart talk, accepting that due to your anxiety for her you acted the way you did might be a starting point. Don't give up on your efforts to make her slim and trim, but don't start immediately once you get back on talking terms. Talk to her a lot. Discuss with her how you feel. Your daughter also realises that she needs to lose but is being stubborn just to thwart you. So impress upon her that you have her interest at heart and if you were over zealous it was due to the love you bear for her. I am sure your daughter would understand. So instead of screaming, try reasoning. And don't worry; your daughter will come around for she will understand that you meant well. Good luck!

Nadine!

I am a 23-year-old girl. I have been friends with a guy through the Internet, for about nine years. It was just a genuine friendship. I had to take a break from this net friend of mine when he asked me to meet for no special reason. He wasn't interested in me except as a friend, but being a girl it wasn't easy for me to decide so quickly. So I simply stopped talking to him. Around the same time, my parents were seeking a decent proposal for my elder sister. Many people came in through different sources. I really hate the way people come to seek girls for their sons. At that time, I started thinking very positively of this net friend of mine, who just wanted to meet me as a friend. I got really against the rishte walli 'aunties' coming and surveying the place, the girl and the family. And then the females who come to see the girl for their sons, and their remarks! They are cruel and heartless, and probably don't have daughters of their own!

I convinced myself that it was better to find a boy for myself than to go through this whole process, and since I knew this friend well enough; it rang a bell in my head. It could be a good opportunity if both the parties agreed. So I started talking to him again after an interval of more than two years. He intially was very moody, which was understandable. Anyhow, things started to sort out eventually and I moved forward and offered to meet for only five minutes at a parking lot. After that I started liking him, and I got the impression that he liked me as well. He asked me to talk over the phone and to meet again. I even asked him casually if he were interested in me, and he said no. In the meantime, my sister got married and now it was my turn. I told him about a few proposals that came in for me but he didn't show any interest and was actually happy for me.

Few months back, I got committed, and ended my friendship, telling him that I had a promised my mom to do that, and he knew about this promise. I just deleted him from everywhere.

I feel that I wasn't actually interested in him. I was just frustrated with the idea of the rishta process a girl has to go through to get married. I haven't met my fiance, as he is abroad and will be coming next month for Nikkah, so I can't actually say whether he is liberal or conservative. Do you think he needs to know about this net friend of mine? He could ask me if I had a man in my life. I wouldn't be lying if I said no, because I might not be in love with this net friend anymore, but I did use to think I was at some point in my life and that will be dishonesty! And if I say yes, it could badly affect my relationship.

Is it better to discuss one's previous relationships with one's spouse, or is it better to keep it to oneself?

V

Dear V,

Getting a suitable proposal is a very tough nut to crack these days, and what girls have to bear in this connection is most unfortunate. Your attempt at 'catching' your net friend was a consequence of this frustration that you could not vent out. The females who come to look the girl over forget their own daughters and look for surface beauty and wealth, which is making this rishta process all the more difficult and compelling the girls to look out for themselves. However, it didn't work out, and you were told by the net friend that he was not interested in you. So what is there to worry about? You were not interested in him in the first place and actually all you are guilty of is trying to clutch at straws after being frightened by the 'rishta walli aunties'. So there is absolutely no reason to tell your fiance anything. There was nothing! So set your mind at ease. There was no romance, no indiscretion to make you feel guilty. Don't open a can of worms by being over-conscientious. Just pray to God for a happy future. Best of luck!

Problems that need a solution? You can e mail Prof. Nadine Khan at nadinekhan_34@yahoo.com

Most women love to pamper themselves. This is the new age where looking older than you are, is not okay anymore. Women are now realising that looking good and feeling good is connected. What's on the inside of a person is extremely important, but there's no harm in making sure that the outside looks great too. Speaking of all things great, Isloo, our beloved capital, is now fast becoming the hub for international labels. Of late many have noticed the various brands from the other side of the world marking their territory and opening up their own outlets there. The most recent to join that list is The Body Shop.

The brand caters exclusively to beauty products. Their popularity lies in the fact that they use natural ingredients to create their products. For the Pakistani market, there are certain fascinating aspects that connect the consumer to the brand. It was noticed that in comparison to the sundry assortment of lotions, creams, soaps and perfumes offered by the brand, the general customer proclivity was in the favor of cosmetics inclusive of lipsticks, eye-liners, eye-shades, foundation and what not.

The shop launch was presided over by The CEO, Kanwal Hashmat Malik. The glamorous ribbon cutting event doubled as a cocktail reception. Top fashion designer Sobia Nazir was present to inaugurate the shop while fashion man Rezz Aly Shah took care of the media management. For many years, the brand has constantly sought out its ingredients from all corners of the globe. Currently, it is one of the major players when it comes to beauty products. With more than 2,500 stores in over 55 countries worldwide - it is a force to reckon with.

If one is looking for products to enhance their skin then they can easily find numerous options at the brands outlets. The people at this company aren't involved with just making people look beautiful; they are also continuously involved in striving to protect the planet from ecological corrosives. More than 30 years have passed since Dame Anita Roddick began her extraordinary journey with her brand and pioneered the simple idea that "businesses have the power to do good," leading to the birth of the original, ethical cosmetics company.

Today, this philosophy continues to drive everything the brand does.

- Lubi Khan

One more step...

There are some people who inspire others by their motivation and determination. Daulat Rahimtoola is one such woman who has worked diligently to develop her own business, Ravissant, a Karachi based beauty salon that recently opened its doors in Lahore.

Daulat then went a step further by setting up a world famous training institute called Pivot Point, so that others could be inducted into the same business. It is almost a decade since Pivot Point began and several scores of young women have been trained professionally and have either been inducted into working salons or have set up their own business.

What is inspirational about Daulat is that she has been doing this for over three decades and at over 60 is still determined to work instead of taking it easy. Raising awareness levels so that people can be self employed not only in the business of grooming but other areas too. She has been the spirit in providing technical training for women and children in jails and in the impoverished areas of Karachi.

Recently, she launched her salon at a local hotel in Lahore in partnership with Bushra Aitzaz, bringing Pivot Point to the heart of Punjab. A selective gathering flew in from Karachi and they were welcomed by an exclusive election of people as the salon was inaugurated by Aitzaz Ehsan.

This salon cum training institute has been a leader in setting standards and in instilling special emphasis to hygienic and contemporary principles and techniques as well as understanding ancient Ayruvedic herbs and procedures that are beneficial and easy on the human system.

Bushra the entrepreneur, who is in partnership in this salon-cum institute in Lahore, said they had several packages on offer to interested clients looking for something that is suitable for them to choose from. There are an interesting range of products - the most famous being the herbal hair treatment that is as old as the Sub-continent and the most modern dermalogica facials, Cinnamon foil facials and thermo mask facials.

Daulat said she is hoping that the institute will benefit the women in this province. She stated that Ravissant Pivot Point is not only catering to women but the training as well as salon facilities will be for men too. Essentially the Pivot Point Institute was a programme to benefit women who wanted to enhance their income while staying at home.

Today there is tremendous potential in this growing industry. We have seen the growth of the media - both print and television - as well as the expansion of the fashion and music industry. With these businesses expanding, technique and skill are both essential and this institute supports women to be trained according to the current requirements so that they can establish themselves as professionals in a business that has boomed.

The first on offer was an intense training programme on Professional Make Up course that began from 5th May for a period of five weeks. This is a certificate programme and is the first of many such training programmes to begin in the city.

Maleeha Choudhary is a fashionista in the true sense. She dresses sharp, contemporary, and stylish and always looks comfortable. Her husband Nasir is artistic, cool and casual. Both of them have a home which truly reflects their styles, and their love for urban comfort.

The house is located in a quiet residential street off a very busy Karachi main road. Despite being so near the city traffic the home is sheltered by the street and surrounding houses, which gives it the much loved cosiness and calm. The house which is contractor erected, was designed by the couple themselves, with some assistance from a friend Natasha Ghani. Built in 2006, this house occupies nearly five hundred square yards. It contains two bedrooms, two offices, four bathrooms, one powder room, a large kitchen, one open lounge and dining area and one large basement space, which really is the centre-point of the house.

Maleeha is the head designer for her line of clothing 'Daaman'. She earlier worked as a buyer and consultant for a women's clothing store in Karachi. Her own line of clothing is modern, straightforward, and aesthetic, and is becoming very popular amongst the ladies. Maleeha maintains an office and display space for her clothing at her home.

Nasir primarily a filmmaker owns and manages 'Periscope' which is a production house specialising mainly in corporate films and documentaries. Nasir's office is also in the house. With both of them working out of the house, the abode has become a multi-faceted space, which almost has a simultaneous occupancy, a double function, and changed personality from day to night.

The main door opening up into a small foyer space leads one into the open lounge and dining area and the powder room to the left. This open plan is welcoming and spacious. Beyond the dining area is the kitchen, which is large and minimal, the counter spaces are a chef's delight. The lounge is a sunken space with cosy seating and colourful artwork. The greenery and water feature outside complements the cool blues and greens of this room. Beyond the lounge area on the right is a glass door leading out to the plants, which, surrounds the master bedroom. This creates an illusion of split-levels and is a fantastic solution for bringing the outdoors indoor and utilising space at its best. They do feel that if ever they were to redo the house, they would try to close in the lounge space, as cost effective cooling in the summer becomes a problem. Both Maleeha and Nasir speak of their bedroom and basement as their favourite spaces in the house.

A staircase parallel to the living space leads down in the basement. The basement again is open spacious and not typically basement like. It is well lit and decorated with exciting pop art images. The pool table is the main feature of this room and is quite a treat for the guests at their parties. The couple does most of their evening entertainment here in the basement. On one end of the room is a cosy sitting, similar to the lounge upstairs; restful seating, bright soft furnishing, complimented by a mix of contemporary and tropical art and accessories. Maleeha thanks IKEA for a lot of the accessories and interior accents of the house. Neither one of them believes in a formal entertainment space, so there is no drawing room type space in this house. As a result of that all guest usually feel a sense of belonging and warmth when visiting this house, the hosts and the spaces are relaxed and most convivial. Along the open space are the rest of the rooms, the doors opening up into the centre of the basement.

Maleeha and Nasir both wanted a warm and comfortable house that would be young, trendy and truly contemporary in design; and most importantly one, which, would fit within a budget. With much hard work, contemplation, decision - making and efficient execution, they succeeded. Their home is a multi-function design that is effective for creative work and good living for these two young active and motivated people.