It was in 1942, when rumors of Japanese invasion were ripe, that the Quaid-e-
Azam said to her "Be prepared to train the women. Islam doesn't want women to
be shut up and never see fresh air.” (A Life devoted to human welfare, Dawn,
Muneeza Shamsie, 11/06/82). Begum Liaquat never looked back.
Her first opportunity to organize Muslim women presented itself in the same
year, when she formed a small volunteer corps for nursing and first aid in Delhi.
Then again in 1947, as the refugees poured in from across the border, amidst
the most pitiable of conditions with cholera, diarrhea and small pox being
common sights everywhere, she called upon women to come forward and collect
food and medical supplies from government offices. The women came forward
despite the resistance they faced from certain sections of society, including
certain newspapers where they were attacked in the most vicious manner by
elements that did not want women to come out from their ‘four walls’. She firmly
believed that for a society to do justice to itself it was pertinent that women
played their due role in reforming society alongside the men. In this she faced
many difficulties as certain sections of public opinion from time to time accused
her of “leading Muslim women astray.” Initially, when he was alive, Liaquat Ali
Khan himself defended his wife in public. Once addressing a political rally in
Karachi he said, “Where has my wife taken the people of Pakistan to? To the
dance halls? No! She has taken them to work in the refugee camps. Where has
my wife led the women of Pakistan? To gambling dens? No! It is to hospitals to
work as nurses that she has led them.” (Begum Liaquat : A Tribute, Dawn,
15/06/90)
Azam said to her "Be prepared to train the women. Islam doesn't want women to
be shut up and never see fresh air.” (A Life devoted to human welfare, Dawn,
Muneeza Shamsie, 11/06/82). Begum Liaquat never looked back.
Her first opportunity to organize Muslim women presented itself in the same
year, when she formed a small volunteer corps for nursing and first aid in Delhi.
Then again in 1947, as the refugees poured in from across the border, amidst
the most pitiable of conditions with cholera, diarrhea and small pox being
common sights everywhere, she called upon women to come forward and collect
food and medical supplies from government offices. The women came forward
despite the resistance they faced from certain sections of society, including
certain newspapers where they were attacked in the most vicious manner by
elements that did not want women to come out from their ‘four walls’. She firmly
believed that for a society to do justice to itself it was pertinent that women
played their due role in reforming society alongside the men. In this she faced
many difficulties as certain sections of public opinion from time to time accused
her of “leading Muslim women astray.” Initially, when he was alive, Liaquat Ali
Khan himself defended his wife in public. Once addressing a political rally in
Karachi he said, “Where has my wife taken the people of Pakistan to? To the
dance halls? No! She has taken them to work in the refugee camps. Where has
my wife led the women of Pakistan? To gambling dens? No! It is to hospitals to
work as nurses that she has led them.” (Begum Liaquat : A Tribute, Dawn,
15/06/90)
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