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support the full rights of all Pakistani citizens. Her argument is against the religious nationstate, a form that is not exclusive to Asia or Islam, since it includes Israel and Saudi Arabia. Khan highlights the arguments of the women she interviewed. She echoes the analysis of Farzana Bari, a long-term feminist activist, journalist, professor of gender studies, and leader of the Awami Workers Party. ‘What is missing today is a strong left to counterbalance the influence of the religious right, but that movement was systematically destroyed through the state’s antipathy after Pakistan’s independence and Zia’s rule. Farzana Bari thinks the longterm success of feminism is nonetheless tied with a resurgence of leftist politics’ (p. 300). Khan details the most important debates of the 1980s and 1990s about strategies and tactics to build the women’s movement. She gleans vital lessons for success under inhospitable terms. First, hold onto the secular language of political and legal rights. Second, fight for women’s rights alongside the rights of all vulnerable citizens, since the security of one group relies on the security of everyone else. Third, fight for legislative, legal and political reforms. Fourth, women’s political demands should address the state as its ‘preferred adversary’, rather than military or religious authorities (p. 279). Fifth, during the vicissitudes of democracy, whether overshadowed by autocracy, plutocracy or military dictatorship, ‘never let the rights of women be far from legislative or policy agendas’ (p. 278). These are hard-won lessons all feminists can learn from, since they sustain women’s movements in Pakistan and beyond. A yearning for a mass movement, one that builds leadership among poor women, working women, and farming women is present throughout Khan’s book. She cites ongoing struggles and the honour killings of women and men who have transgressed social and sexual norms that are mandated by local powers. The resolution of conflict by military force continues to tear at the social fabric in remote areas along the Afghanistan border. The power of external support, whether in funding or publicity, continues to be important to the struggle for equal rights, laws and practices. Women still seek autonomy over their lives and their bodies, and demand lives without sexual and physical violence. These are all ordinary women’s issues, ones that affect children and elders too, and also men in violent ways. They are issues best fought in coalition with groups that share progressive values against patriarchy and hierarchical rights. Women’s issues are people’s issues. In reminding us of what the Pakistani women’s movement has achieved, Khan emphasizes that, ideally, the mass of ordinary Pakistani women should lead the women’s movement.