KARACHI, March 8: Women members of the Sindh Assembly, deploring the
discrimination against women in different forms and under various pretexts, have
stressed on confidence-building measures for the womenfolk of the
country.
They were speaking at a seminar organized by the Sindh Women
Development Department to mark the International Women’s Day here on
Wednesday.
Sindh Minister for Women Development Dr Saeeda Malik, MPA
Bilquis Mukhtar, MPA Rehana Nasreen, Adviser to the Governor Fatima Surraiya
Bajia, President of the Kashmiri Women Association Saida Salahuddin and Farzana
Rehman were the key speakers at the seminar.
They were of the view that
while it would take time to change this male-dominated society’s mindset, yet
women could forge unity to contain their ingrained insecurity.
Fatima
Surraiya Bajia stressed that gender equality and due regard between all members
of the society is prerequisite for progress and development of any
society.
She urged women to shun belligerent stance and assert the fact
that “it is Islam that ensures maximum rights for women which need to be
relegated to the present day Muslim woman.”
Dr Saeeda Malik, acknowledged
that hostility had its negative implications, but emphasized that women ought to
be assertive in getting their constitutional rights, besides those enshrined in
Islam.
Underscoring the need for changing the feudal mindset, she said
this was possible through education. The government, she pointed out, had
accorded education a top priority.
She also said that it was the present
government that had declared karo-kari a crime equivalent to ‘intentional
murder’. However, she added, the custom could be contained only by changing
society’s attitude towards women.
She also took strong exception to the
tendency of underestimating calibre and talent of women. Addressing young girls,
she remarked: “women have the acumen to bring about a change and take major
responsibilities and challenges.”
MPA Bilquis Mukhtar said it was after a
struggle of 58 years that Pakistani women had now been given 33 per cent
representation in local bodies and 17 per cent in assemblies. But, she added,
women in Pakistan had still a long way to go to achieve justice and equality
restored to them in real sense.
Rehana Nasreen said a change was being
brought about gradually but it would take some time to root out the feudal
approach from the society.
The seminar was attended by students from
various schools and colleges, nurses, doctors, lawyers, NGO representatives, and
women activists.
WALK HELD: Earlier, a large number of women from
different walks of life converged on the mausoleum of the country’s top role
models — Mohtarama Fatima Jinnah and Begum Rana Liaquat Ali Khan – to kick off
the day long activities to mark the International Women’s Day.
The women,
led by Sindh Minister for Women Development Dr Saeeda Malik, who was accompanied
by Naib Nazim Nasreen Jalil, stepped into the mausoleum premises collectively
and offered fateha at the tomb of Mohtarama Fatima Jinnah, who had paved way for
women of the country to enter into active politics. The women then offered
fateha at the tomb Begum Rana Liaquat Ali Khan, who pioneered the cause of
women’s social uplift and economic independence soon after the country came into
being.
Fateha was also offered at the tombs of Quaid-i-Azam, Khan Liaquat
Ali Khan, Sardar Abdul Rab Nishter and Noorul Ameen.
Later, the women
held a walk from Mazar-i-Quaid to Gul-i-Rana Nusrat Community Centre. The
participants were carrying placards and banners inscribed with slogans in favour
of women empowerment in real sense.
Demands of equal rights for women as
guaranteed under the constitution and by the religion were also displayed on the
occasion.
GATHERING: A gathering was held at the Sindh Assembly
building on Wednesday in connection with the International Women’s
Day.
Deputy Speaker of the assembly Raheela Tiwana, speaking on the
occasion, said that women should renew their pledge to play their due role
towards the development and progress of the country.
She was of the view
that this was the day for women to encourage and give strength to each another
to make headway and achieve a lot for womenfolk.
Ms Tiwana stressed that
women should have self-confidence to assert their capabilities and power rather
than looking to others or banking on someone else for help and
support.
She observed that Islam had decided a rightful place for women
in society.
Begum Manzar Rawal, a PML leader, said that women were as
capable and talented as the men could be.
Begum Salma Murad, Saba Marvi
Tiwana, Safina Javed also expressed their views.
At a ceremony on the
occasion, certificates were distributed among talented women. A draw for Umra
was also held at the ceremony.—APP
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