Images of ‘Enlightened Moderation’ in Selected Pakistani Women Fiction

Abstract

This research attempts to explore the co-relation between women’s position in the State of Pakistan and legislation regarding women by the state government. It also studies the importance of this co-relation in the formation of nation’s gendered identity, and its reflection in the selected Pakistani women’s fiction. Moreover, the study uses General Parvez Musharaf’s martial law (1999-2008) as the historical backdrop. Taking Anne McClintock’s “Gender, Race and Nationalism”, and Deniz Kandiyoti’s “Bargaining with Patriarchy”, the researchers critically analyze the existing literature on the subject of women bodies and their objectification at the national levels through legislation. The selected military period, its policies, legislation on the positioning of Pakistani women, and the dominant official discourses during the martial law regime, are the main focus of the present study. General Pervez Musharraf came to power with the famous slogan of ‘Enlightened Moderation’. With the onset of his regime, there were certain profound changes that occurred in the state and affected the overall society. These changes are very well represented in the contemporary Pakistani fiction. Thus, this study examines Uzma Aslam Khan’s Trespassing and Kamila Shamsie’s Broken Verses to demonstrate Musharraf’s ‘enlightened moderation’.