It was shocking to notice the state of affairs in a major shelter home located in Sukkur city called Darul Amaan, where scores of women are forced to live in one room due to lack of space.

As we all know that several districts in Upper Sindh are difficult places for women to live, as violence against women is frequent.
The reasons and roots of such violence are manifold, but the fact is that a good number of women seek refuge in these shelter homes in order to save their lives and seek justice.

Many of these women are victims of family and tribal feuds, lack of access to justice, absence of human rights, leave these women in distress to turn to police stations and appear in courts with their complaints. It is a well known fact that the provincial government pays only Rs nine per day for meals to these women. Many women live there with their children.

The government and its institutions must intervene effectively to take care of these women. These are brave women who have left their homes to seek freedom and justice. They should not end up in shackles in the name of shelter homes. I would specially request our women MPAs to spend some time with these women and see what they could do for them.

MUSHTAQUE RAJPAR
Karachi