Tennis star's inclusion in Pakistan's influential women's list gets lukewarm response
Tennis star's inclusion in Pakistan's influential women's list gets lukewarm responseIndian tennis sensation Sania Mirza, who married Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik last year, has been included in a list of 100 women who can 'shake Pakistan'. Mirza, who chose to live in Dubai after her high-profile and controversial marriage to Malik, finds a mention in the list alongside former federal minister Sherry Rehman, women's rights champion Mukhtaran Mai, and Um-e Hassan, the wife of hardline Lal Masjid cleric. The list compiled by Newsweek Pakistan magazine describes Mirza as a "tennis pro (who) has been welcomed by Pakistanis as their own".
Surprise inclusionMany Pakistanis have expressed surprise at Mirza being included in the list. "One conflicting lady is Sania Mirza who I think cannot and should not be included in this list unless she becomes a Pakistani citizen," posted a Pakistani housewife who blogs by the same name. "How did Sania Mirza make it to that list. Last I saw her she was winning games for India. Don't mean to be harsh or anything but isn't this thread about proud Pakistani women?" wrote a reader on the defence.pk website.
A "Karachi feminist" pooh-poohed the list, saying "it fits the paradigm of how westerners write about Pakistan.
"If it's not going to be the terror militant suicide angle, then it should be about defiance, spirit, resilienceu00a0-- their art, their bold and talented women, unique industries," the author posted on lurkinginambush.blogspot.com.
Hyderabad reacts But in Hyderabad many seemed to be amused as to how Pakistanis could stake claim on an Indian who is married to a Pakistani and has not yet accepted that country's citizenship. If some said it was silly on the part of Pakistanis to stake claim on her, some thought it was unjust to include Sania on the list of influential women just like that as she had done nothing for the society there.u00a0
