Tehmina Durrani
Encyclopedia
Tehmina Durrani a Durrani
Pashtun
, is the daughter of the late former Governor of State Bank of Pakistan
and former Chairman of Pakistan International Airlines
, Shahkur Ullah Durrani
and grand-daughter of Sir Sikandar Hyat
. Her first book, My Feudal Lord, caused controversy in Pakistan's male-dominated and women-baiting society describing her abusive and traumatic marriage with Ghulam Mustafa Khar, then Chief Minister and later Governor of Punjab
and her experience of a feudal society. She is today involved in the emancipation of women in Pakistan.
An Afghan Pathan by descent, and born into an educated and influential family of status, Durrani's was just 17, when she married Anees Khan, and they had one daughter, Tania. She divorced him in 1976 and then married Khar. In the process she had to give up claim of her daughter's custody. It was Durrani's second marriage and the sixth marriage for Khar. The couple later divorced after 13 years and four children, Nasiba, Nafisa, Ali and Hamza. After her divorce, Durrani wrote her autobiography called My Feudal Lord in 1991, detailing her marriage with Khar. The book made the international bestseller list, but stirred controversy in Pakistan
for its detailed description of her marriage, the abuse inflicted on her by her husband, a powerful and prominent political figure, thus initially banned in Pakistan. The book told, how Khar beat Durrani, kidnapped their children, had a rip-roaring affair with her youngest sister, and once forced Durrani to strip naked, when she disobeyed his orders. She argued in the book that the real power of feudal landlords like Khar is derived from the distorted version of Islam that is supported by the mullahs and maulvis. Khar later went on to marry Durrani's sister.
Since 2005 Durrani is associated with a non-governmental organization that works for the social rehabilitation of women after abuse. In 2001, Durrani publicly took on the caregiver role of Fakhra Yunas, the former wife of Bilal Khar, the son of Khar from his first marriage, after Fakhra had been a victim of an acid attack at the hands of Bilal, who then refused to let Fakhra undergo treatment. Durrani arranged to take Yunas abroad, capturing media attention and spurring her commitment to bring Khar, convicted of the attack, to trial. Fakhra was initially denied a passport to leave Pakistan to undergo surgery, because the government feared that the news would soil the reputation of Pakistan. But later, under pressure from among others, Durrani, the government allowed her to leave Pakistan with Durrani, who was also successfully able to provide reconstructive surgery free-of-cost to Fakhra, courtesy of the Italian cosmetics firm Sant'Angelica. The firm is now working in Pakistan for many such battered and abused women.
"My Feudal Lord" has been translated into 36 languages and received many awards and recognition overseas for her courage. and is considered a heroine by many women in Pakistan.
Durrani resides in Lahore with her husband, Shahbaz Sharif, brother of Nawaz Sharif
, whom she married at a secret but well attended ceremony in Dubai in 2003. Upon divorcing Khar, she signed away all financial support, lost custody of her children, her name, social standing and was disowned by her parents. Only when Khar re-married, did she regain custody of her four children.
Her second book, A Mirror to the Blind
, is the biography of Abdul Sattar Edhi
, the renowned Pakistani social worker, as narrated to her during the two years, she followed him on his rounds and in his daily life, published by the National Bureau of Publications in 1996.
Her third book, "Blasphemy", from 1998 marked her return to controversy, and was another success. In the novel she describes the secret lives of the Muslim clergy. Durrani declares that the story is factual, with some names and events altered to protect the identity of the woman, who is at the center of the story. The book also delves into a critical approach to the tradition and practice of Nikah Halala
, which she has highlighted through several cases resulting in humiliation and torture of Muslim women. The book also made it into Pakistan's bestseller list.
Durrani
Durrani or Abdali is the name of a chief Pashtun tribal confederation in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Originally known by their ancient name Abdali later as Durrani they have been called Durrani since the beginning of the Durrani Empire in 1747. The number of Durranis are estimated to be roughly 16%...
Pashtun
Pashtun people
Pashtuns or Pathans , also known as ethnic Afghans , are an Eastern Iranic ethnic group with populations primarily between the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan and the Indus River in Pakistan...
, is the daughter of the late former Governor of State Bank of Pakistan
Governor of State Bank of Pakistan
- List :# Zahid Hussain, 10-06-1948 TO 19-07-1953# Abdul Qadir, 20-07-1953 TO 19-07-1960# Shujaat Ali Hasnie, 20-07-1960 TO 19-07-1967# Mahbubur Raschid, 20-07-1967 TO 01-07-1971# Shahkur Ullah Durrani, 01-07-1971 TO 22-12-1971...
and former Chairman of Pakistan International Airlines
Pakistan International Airlines
Pakistan International Airlines Corporation commonly known as PIA, is the flag carrier airline of Pakistan. The airline has its head office on the grounds of Jinnah International Airport in Karachi. and operates scheduled services to 24 domestic destinations and 38 international destinations in 27...
, Shahkur Ullah Durrani
Shahkur Ullah Durrani
((Infobox officeholder|name = Shahkir Ullah Durrani|office = Governor State Bank Of PakistanShahkir Ullah Durrani (S.U.) was an Afghan/Pakistani International Banker and Entrepreneur originally from the Pashtun Popalzai tribe...
and grand-daughter of Sir Sikandar Hyat
Sikander Hyat Khan
Sardar Sir Sikander Hayat Khan, KB, KCSI, Doctor of Oriental Lit etc. was a renowned British Indian politician and statesman from the Punjab.-Early Life:...
. Her first book, My Feudal Lord, caused controversy in Pakistan's male-dominated and women-baiting society describing her abusive and traumatic marriage with Ghulam Mustafa Khar, then Chief Minister and later Governor of Punjab
Punjab (Pakistan)
Punjab is the most populous province of Pakistan, with approximately 45% of the country's total population. Forming most of the Punjab region, the province is bordered by Kashmir to the north-east, the Indian states of Punjab and Rajasthan to the east, the Pakistani province of Sindh to the...
and her experience of a feudal society. She is today involved in the emancipation of women in Pakistan.
An Afghan Pathan by descent, and born into an educated and influential family of status, Durrani's was just 17, when she married Anees Khan, and they had one daughter, Tania. She divorced him in 1976 and then married Khar. In the process she had to give up claim of her daughter's custody. It was Durrani's second marriage and the sixth marriage for Khar. The couple later divorced after 13 years and four children, Nasiba, Nafisa, Ali and Hamza. After her divorce, Durrani wrote her autobiography called My Feudal Lord in 1991, detailing her marriage with Khar. The book made the international bestseller list, but stirred controversy in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
for its detailed description of her marriage, the abuse inflicted on her by her husband, a powerful and prominent political figure, thus initially banned in Pakistan. The book told, how Khar beat Durrani, kidnapped their children, had a rip-roaring affair with her youngest sister, and once forced Durrani to strip naked, when she disobeyed his orders. She argued in the book that the real power of feudal landlords like Khar is derived from the distorted version of Islam that is supported by the mullahs and maulvis. Khar later went on to marry Durrani's sister.
Since 2005 Durrani is associated with a non-governmental organization that works for the social rehabilitation of women after abuse. In 2001, Durrani publicly took on the caregiver role of Fakhra Yunas, the former wife of Bilal Khar, the son of Khar from his first marriage, after Fakhra had been a victim of an acid attack at the hands of Bilal, who then refused to let Fakhra undergo treatment. Durrani arranged to take Yunas abroad, capturing media attention and spurring her commitment to bring Khar, convicted of the attack, to trial. Fakhra was initially denied a passport to leave Pakistan to undergo surgery, because the government feared that the news would soil the reputation of Pakistan. But later, under pressure from among others, Durrani, the government allowed her to leave Pakistan with Durrani, who was also successfully able to provide reconstructive surgery free-of-cost to Fakhra, courtesy of the Italian cosmetics firm Sant'Angelica. The firm is now working in Pakistan for many such battered and abused women.
"My Feudal Lord" has been translated into 36 languages and received many awards and recognition overseas for her courage. and is considered a heroine by many women in Pakistan.
Durrani resides in Lahore with her husband, Shahbaz Sharif, brother of Nawaz Sharif
Nawaz Sharif
Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif is a Pakistani conservative politician and steel magnate who served as 12th Prime Minister of Pakistan in two non-consecutive terms from November 1990 to July 1993, and from February 1997 to October 12, 1999...
, whom she married at a secret but well attended ceremony in Dubai in 2003. Upon divorcing Khar, she signed away all financial support, lost custody of her children, her name, social standing and was disowned by her parents. Only when Khar re-married, did she regain custody of her four children.
Her second book, A Mirror to the Blind
A Mirror to the Blind
A Mirror to the Blind is a biography of Dr. Abdul Sattar Edhi, a world renowned philanthropist. The book was written by Tehmina Durrani and first published in 1996.-References:...
, is the biography of Abdul Sattar Edhi
Abdul Sattar Edhi
Abdul Sattar Edhi, NI , or Maulana Edhi, as he is often known, is a Pakistani philanthropist. He is head of the Edhi Foundation, the world's largest ambulance help service and charity. Together with his wife, Bilquis Edhi, he received the 1986 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service. He is also...
, the renowned Pakistani social worker, as narrated to her during the two years, she followed him on his rounds and in his daily life, published by the National Bureau of Publications in 1996.
Her third book, "Blasphemy", from 1998 marked her return to controversy, and was another success. In the novel she describes the secret lives of the Muslim clergy. Durrani declares that the story is factual, with some names and events altered to protect the identity of the woman, who is at the center of the story. The book also delves into a critical approach to the tradition and practice of Nikah Halala
Nikah Halala
Shia and much Sunni jurisprudence of Sharia disallows a couple remarrying after having been through three divorces.Some Sunni schools view a triple talaq, when the husband saying "I divorce you" three times in a row, as equivalent to three single talaq...
, which she has highlighted through several cases resulting in humiliation and torture of Muslim women. The book also made it into Pakistan's bestseller list.
External links
- The South Asian Women's NETwork: Tehmina Durrani
- Her fearless pen - Mid-Day By Muhammad Najeeb 26/10/1998
- Sending ripples in Pak society 1/11/1998
- Crime By Ayesha Javed Akram, July 2001
- Time for renaissance - Religion - Islam By Tehmina Durrani for New Internationalist, Jan-Feb, 2002
- Help for Pakistan's acid attack victims By Sahar Ali, 4/8/2003
- Acid Attacks: A Brutal Crime of Passion By Leela Jacinto 3/9/2003
- Out Of The Realm Of Fear Interview by Sahar Ali, 4th Quarter 2003
- Punjab's ex-CM Shahbaz Sharif confirms Marriage with Tehmina Durrani 7/2/2005
- Shahbaz wedding: political fallout 11/2/2005
- Pakistani Women’s Writing: Voices of Progress 2006
- Breaking the Silence in Tehmina Durrani's My Feudal Lord By Shabina Nishat Omar, 2008
- http://books.google.com/books?id=YNz0ueodLUsC&pg=PA29&lpg=PA29&dq=tehmina+durrani+interview&source=bl&ots=qLqk4RVG0R&sig=wyJJsRszNpmXIVxdkIT-56TpLos&hl=da&ei=FINwS5COM5Lj-QaByvHxAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CA0Q6AEwAjh4#v=onepage&q=tehmina%20durrani%20interview&f=falseAliens among us: Reflections of women writers on women - Tehmina Durrani's Blasphemy from a Multiple Perspective]