Khawar Mumtaz, born on 29 June 1945, is a Pakistani women’s rights activist, feminist author, and university professor. She served as the Chairperson of the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) for three consecutive terms, spanning from 2013 to 2019.
Family
Khawar Mumtaz is married to Kamil Khan Mumtaz, an architect, and together they have three children: a daughter named Samiya Mumtaz, who is a prominent actress, and two sons. Additionally, her great-aunt is Ismat Chughtai, an Urdu novelist and filmmaker.
Education
Mumtaz received her primary and secondary education at St. Joseph’s Convent School in Karachi, Pakistan. She continued her studies at St. Joseph’s College for higher secondary education. Mumtaz went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in International Relations from the University of Karachi, where she achieved the top position in the examination. Additionally, she holds a diploma in the French language. Notably, Mumtaz had the opportunity to study at the Sorbonne in Paris at one point in her academic journey.
Khawar Mumtaz's Activism: A Journey for Equality
Khawar Mumtaz’s activism began in the late 1960s during the agitation against General Ayub Khan, fostering her commitment to social justice. The pivotal moment came in 1977 with the enactment of repressive laws, including the appalling stoning of women accused of adultery.
In response, Mumtaz co-founded the Women’s Action Forum (WAF) to vehemently reject these laws imposed by the General Zia-ul-Haq regime. WAF aimed to prioritize women’s issues in the political agenda, advocating for equal rights in Pakistan.
Mumtaz’s journey reflects unwavering dedication to challenging injustice and promoting progressive change, particularly in empowering women against oppressive policies.
From Teaching to Advocacy: Khawar Mumtaz's Dynamic Journey
Khawar Mumtaz initially entered the education sector as a university teacher but faced the need to leave in 1983 due to pressure to halt her activism. Undeterred, she transitioned to become one of three female coordinators at Shirkat Gah, a women’s rights and development organization. Here, she contributed to developing research reports, training manuals, and advocacy materials, with a focus on critical issues such as women and the environment, women and the law, as well as reproductive health and rights. Serving as the Coordinator and CEO, Mumtaz’s time at Shirkat Gah played a pivotal role in shaping her understanding and experience, laying the groundwork for her influential leadership as the Chairperson of the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW).
Professional Expertise: A Comprehensive Overview
With nearly 35 years of experience in teaching and journalism, transnational advocacy, and activism, she has become a distinguished expert in various specialized areas. Her focus includes women’s rights and development, women’s political participation, poverty and environment, as well as women’s reproductive health and rights. Beyond her extensive background, her contributions extend from capacity building of community-based organizations to conducting research, analysis, and engaging in evidence-based advocacy with policymakers.
Diverse Leadership and Impact
With over 60 publications, her career centers on research, writing, and lecturing, emphasizing women’s development, feminism, politics, and issues related to women’s economic, environmental, and reproductive health challenges. She holds key positions in national and international organizations, including vice-president roles at the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and the Society for International Development. Noteworthy contributions extend to ARROW, UNEP International Resource Panel, the Punjab Rural Support Programme, PANOS South Asia, and Lead Pakistan. Her influence is felt in shaping Pakistan’s national conservation strategy and representing West Asia on the IUCN Council.
Additionally, she serves on the boards of the International Institute for Sustainable Development and the editorial panel of Development journal.Locally, she has contributed to Pakistan’s Planning Commission and the Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF).
Versatile Leadership and Advocacy
Throughout her career, she has shouldered diverse responsibilities, gaining valuable experience in universities, organizations, and human rights institutions. Notably, she held the position of the Chair of the Senate at Karakoram International University. Actively involved in the women’s movement in Pakistan, she has been a prominent speaker at both national and international forums, addressing crucial themes such as women’s rights, gender-based violence, women’s development and empowerment, and environmental challenges impacting women’s health.
- Under her leadership, NCSW initiated impactful efforts to advance women’s rights:
- Signed an agreement with the Higher Education Commission in November 2019 for a public library and women’s museum in Islamabad.
- Collaborated with the Election Commission of Pakistan in July 2018 to establish an early warning system in low-turnout areas, enabling swift action against barriers to women’s voting and candidacy.
- Organized the launch of an Urdu poetry book by a domestic worker in January 2018, fostering encouragement for young women writers.
- Conducted a 2006 survey on obstacles to women’s empowerment.
- Defined priority areas, including women’s economic participation, violence against women, and women’s participation in decision-making, influencing policies from the household to society.
- Contributed to the drafting of laws related to rape, honor killing, domestic violence, Hindu marriages, and election reforms. Reviewed the Election Act, 2017, providing recommendations that were incorporated into the law.
- Monitored Elections 2013 and 2018, focusing on women’s participation in select constituencies.
- Investigated women’s access to justice in rape cases under the Women Protection Act 2006, producing a detailed report.
- Produced reports such as the Women’s Economic Empowerment Status Report 2016 and Rural Women Status Report 2018, serving as benchmarks for progress tracking.
- Developed standardized indicators on violence against women for data collection.
- Published newsletters and annual reports for information dissemination and policy recommendations.
- Facilitated the Inter-provincial Women Ministers Group, fostering coordination, referrals, and information sharing among provinces on women’s issues, laws, policies, and complaints.
Khawar Mumtaz's Tenure: A Dynamic Leadership Journey at NCSW
In 2012, Khawar Mumtaz assumed the role of NCSW Chairperson, selected from six candidates after the position remained vacant for six months following Anis Haroon’s term. Serving a three-year term until December 2015, she was succeeded briefly by acting chairperson Saira Afzal Tarar.
Her reappointment for the 2016-2019 term faced legal challenges in February 2018 when Dr. Farzana Bari contested the process’s transparency and adherence to the NCSW Act, 2012. The Islamabad High Court set aside Khawar Mumtaz’s appointment, deeming the selection committee’s decision beyond the Act’s scope.
The chairperson’s post remained vacant despite Khawar Mumtaz’s qualifications, leading Dr. Huma Qureshi to serve as acting chairperson temporarily. Khawar Mumtaz contested the decision, leading to a stay order in June 2018, allowing her to resume her role as NCSW’s chairperson until the end of her second term on October 30, 2019.
Throughout her tenure, she received acclaim from activists and writers, including I.A. Rehman, Farhat Ullah Babar, Sherry Rehman, Kishwar Naheed, Samar Minallah, Haris Khalique, and others, celebrating her impactful initiatives for women’s empowerment and rights in Pakistan. Her contributions included developing reports, research studies, and reviewing laws.