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‘Want equal respect’: Pakistan’s females galloping to glory in tent pegging

Al Jazeera · 🇶🇦 public Qatar · · 2328 words · By Mutee Ur Rehman
Gender equality Socioeconomic Barriers in Sports Cultural Tradition vs. Modernity
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What to know about Gender equality

‘Want equal respect’: Pakistan’s females galloping to glory in tent pegging More and more women and girls are making a mark – and winning laurels – in the overwhelmingly male sport, locally called ‘neza baazi’.

Claims checked 13
Techniques found 2
Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Right coverage
Left14%
Center86%
Right0%

7 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

‘Want equal respect’: Pakistan’s females galloping to glory in tent pegging More and more women and girls are making a mark – and winning laurels – in the overwhelmingly male sport, locally called ‘neza baazi’.

Why it matters

Rawalpindi, Pakistan – On a cold January morning, Anum Shakoor gallops across a field, wrapped in a black shawl that billows behind her as she charges forward, a 1.8-metre (6ft) lance gripped tightly in her hand.

Common ground

The 30-year-old has already claimed her first peg.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Exaggeration / Hyperbole: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/5/24/want-equal-respect-pakistan-females-gal…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 2 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning
Loaded Language 80% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.
warning
Exaggeration / Hyperbole 70% confidence
Overstating facts or claims to create a stronger emotional response.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing exaggeration / hyperbole helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 13 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

info Single Source 4
check_circle Corroborated 4
schedule Pending 3
help Insufficient Evidence 2
info
Claim 1: “At 20, she became the first Pakistani woman to compete against and beat 70 male riders at a mela.”
SINGLE SOURCE
Search results mention Ayesha Ahmed Khan as a rider, but the specific claim of beating 70 male riders at a mela is not found in the provided evidence.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Jul 13, 2025 ... Saudi Arabia Girls Horse Riding · Muslim Rider · Horse with Wings Pakistan · Black Horse Pakistan · Ayesha Ahmed Khan Horse Rider · Women Islam ...
https://www.tiktok.com/@nuktapakistan/video/7526504211924700…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Oct 24, 2021 ... Chanaka Rajapaksha pakistan play 10 t20 matches be4 world t20 .only 1 match plyed windes. kiwi come and go without plying matches.eng tour the ...
https://www.facebook.com/icc/posts/extended-highlights-the-f…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — what rings truer is the stories of men and women who fought to win political ... fraught with difficulty in both novels, with the men and women being torn between.
https://cdr.lib.unc.edu/downloads/vt150k56p?locale=en
schedule
Claim 2: “Last year, a mela held in Jathli in Rawalpindi’s Tehsil Gujjar Khan had 50 participating teams with nearly 200 riders – all male except Shakoor, Ibrahim and Malik.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
check_circle
Claim 3: “One of the 74 teams competing in this year’s mela is Shakoor’s Bint-e-Zahra Club, Pakistan’s first female-only tent-pegging club.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent social media and web sources (Instagram, TikTok, and a web listing) explicitly identify Bint-e-Zahra as Pakistan's first-ever ladies tent pegging club.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Dec 18, 2025 · Bint-e-Zahra (S.A), Pakistan's first-ever Ladies Tent Pegging Club, invites fearless women riders to be part of an inspiring sisterhood where ...“ A new era is about to begin “ . We cor…
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1540111792913807/posts/42580…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Calling out all lady riders! Bint e Zahra (S.A), Pakistan's first ever ladies tent pegging club invites all the fearless lady riders out there to come and ...
https://www.instagram.com/bintzahraladiestentpeggingclub/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Feb 21, 2025 · Discover Team Bint e Zahra, a passionate ladies tent pegging club in Pakistan, showcasing equestrian skills and team spirit! #nezabazi # ...
https://www.tiktok.com/@binte.zahra.ladies.club/video/747413…
help
Claim 4: “In 2021, the Equestrian Federation of Pakistan, established by Ata, sponsored six girls to train under a South African coach.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found regarding the sponsorship of six girls to train under a South African coach in 2021.
help
Claim 5: “In 2015, he attended a mela at Kot Fateh Khan in Attock district... the hometown of Malik Ata, fondly remembered as 'Baba-e neza baazi'”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found in the search results regarding Malik Ata or 'Baba-e neza baazi'.
check_circle
Claim 6: “Shakoor says the club was formed in 2025”
CORROBORATED
Web search results from December 2025 and February/May 2025 refer to the club's activities and invitations in 2025, supporting the timeline of its formation/operation in that year.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (13 February 1913 – 13 June 1982) was King and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia from 25 March 1975 until his death in 1982. Before his ascension, he was Crown Prince of Saud…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khalid_of_Saudi_Arabia
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Sayyidah Zainab (Arabic: السيدة زينب) is one of the old traditional districts of Cairo, Egypt. Its name is based on the presence of the Sayyidah Zainab Mosque. It is known for its traditional restaura…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sayyidah_Zainab_District
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra ibni Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail (Jawi: توانكو سيد فائز الدين ڤوترا ابن توانكو سيد سراج الدين جمل الليل; born (1967-12-30)30 December 1967 in Alor Setar, Kedah, Mala…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuanku_Syed_Faizuddin_Putra_Ja…
+ 3 more evidence sources
check_circle
Claim 7: “That same year, she took the women’s team to Jordan, where it competed against 13 countries. 'We came third,' Khan recalls”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources confirm the Pakistan women's team competed in Jordan in 2022 and secured a bronze medal (third place) among 14 countries.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Jordan has a population of more than 11.1 million inhabitants as of 2023. Jordanians (Arabic: أردنيون) are the citizens of Jordan. Approximately 98% of Jordanians are Arabs, many of whom are of Palest…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Jordan
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Jordanian administration of the West Bank officially began on 24 April 1950, and ended with the decision to sever ties on 31 July 1988. The period started during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, when Tr…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordanian_annexation_of_the_We…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Jordan–Pakistan relations are the bilateral relations between the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Pakistan maintains an embassy in Amman whilst Jordan has an embassy …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan–Pakistan_relations
+ 3 more evidence sources
info
Claim 8: “In 2024, the International Tent Pegging Federation organised an open international competition in Jordan. Pakistan sent a men-only team”
SINGLE SOURCE
The evidence confirms the existence of the International Tent Pegging Federation and events in Jordan, but does not specifically corroborate that Pakistan sent a 'men-only' team to a specific 2024 open competition.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Equestrian Federation of Pakistan (EFP) is the national governing body to promote and develop equestrian sports in Pakistan. Sahibzada Sultan Muhammad Ali is the current president of EFP.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equestrian_Federation_of_Pakis…
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Sport in Pakistan is a significant part of Pakistani culture. Cricket is the most popular sport in Pakistan. Football has also gained popularity in recent years, and is the second most popular sport i…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sport_in_Pakistan
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Pakistan has many traditional games played in the rural and urban areas of the country.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditional_games_of_Pakistan
+ 3 more evidence sources
schedule
Claim 9: “A sporting horse costs about $1,500 in Pakistan.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
info
Claim 10: “The event near Rawalpindi that Shakoor attended was organised by Samiullah Barsa, a 27-year-old United States national of Pakistani origin”
SINGLE SOURCE
One search result mentions Anum Shakoor in Rawalpindi, and another mentions a tent pegging event at RUDN Enclave, but the specific identity of Samiullah Barsa as the organizer is not corroborated across multiple sources.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Rawalpindi, Pakistan – On a cold January morning, Anum Shakoor gallops across a field, wrapped in a black shawl that billows behind her as she charges forward, a 1.8-metre (6ft) lance gripped tightly …
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/5/24/want-equal-respect-…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Skilled riders from throughout Pakistan demonstrated their abilities at the Tent Pegging event at RUDN Enclave. The event was full with enthusiasm, thundering hooves, traditional costumes, and enthusi…
https://rudnenclave.com/tent-pegging-event-at-rudn-enclave/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — [7] This incorporation positioned the USTPF as the National Governing Body (NGB) for tent pegging in the United States, an ancient equestrian sport in which riders on horseback strike ground targets a…
https://grokipedia.com/page/united_states_tent_pegging_feder…
schedule
Claim 11: “A horse’s monthly feed averages 30,000 to 35,000 Pakistani rupees ($107 to $125)”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
check_circle
Claim 12: “Khan joined the women’s team in 2022 and quickly worked her way up to becoming its captain.”
CORROBORATED
Web results identify Ayesha Ahmed Khan as the Captain of the Pakistan National Tent Pegging team and mention her role in the women's team, with a related source mentioning the 2022 Jordan Grand Prix.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Ayesha Khan or Aisha Khan may refer to: Ayesha Khan (Pakistani actress) Ayesha Khan (Indian actress) Aisha Uqbah Malik, former Pakistani actress also known as Aisha Khan Waseqa Ayesha Khan, Banglade…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayesha_Khan
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Ayesha Khan (Urdu: عائشہ خان; 3 January 1941 – June 2025) was a veteran Pakistani actress. She was known for her drama roles in PTV's Afshan, Aroosa, and Family 93. In later years, she worked in a num…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayesha_Khan_(Pakistani_actress…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi (born 5 October 1952) is a Pakistani former cricketer, philanthropist, and politician who served as the 19th prime minister of Pakistan from August 2018 until April 2022. As a c…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imran_Khan
+ 3 more evidence sources
info
Claim 13: “Ayesha Khan... was the only woman selected for Pakistan’s under-21 mixed gender team and was sent to South Africa for a tournament”
SINGLE SOURCE
While there are mentions of Ayesha Ahmed Khan in tent pegging, the specific detail about being the only woman in an under-21 mixed gender team sent to South Africa is not corroborated by the provided search results.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi (born 5 October 1952) is a Pakistani former cricketer, philanthropist, and politician who served as the 19th prime minister of Pakistan from August 2018 until April 2022. As a c…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imran_Khan
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Abdul Qadeer Khan (1 April 1936 – 10 October 2021) was a Pakistani nuclear physicist and metallurgical engineer. He is colloquially known as the "father of Pakistan's atomic weapons program". A Muha…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdul_Qadeer_Khan
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Ayesha Zafar (born 9 September 1994) is a Pakistani cricketer who plays as a right-handed batter for Pakistan. She has also played domestic cricket for Karachi, Sindh, Saif Sports Saga and State Bank …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayesha_Zafar
+ 3 more evidence sources
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.