SWABI: Women members of local bodies here on Saturday complained women parliamentarians had miserably failed to work for the rights of womenfolk.

The complaint was made during a function organised by a non-governmental organisation, Samaji Behbud Rabita Council, on the women’s rights here.

The event was organised to educate women councillors about the constitutional rights of womenfolk.

The women councilors said former military ruler Pervez Musharraf deserved the credit the presence of a large number of women in parliament and local governments.

They said the democratic governments had no option but to maintain his policy of women’s representation in assemblies and local bodies.

The women councilors said lack of education was the major reason of women lagging behind and that till they’re illiterate, women wouldn’t be able to fight for their rights in the male-dominated society.

They demanded educational facilities and conducive environment for girls to get education like boys.

The women councilors said girls in rural regions struggled to get modern education due to lack of facilities.

PTI councillor Shafqat Rani said women lawmakers should play due role in creating awareness among women of the need for their education.

She said scores of women were stopped from exercising their right to vote in the previous elections but none of women lawmakers protested it on the floor of their respective assemblies.

Farzana Begum, another councillor, said when women were denied the right to vote, women lawmakers acted indifferently.

She praised the Supreme Court for ordering the woman’s participation in the electoral process.

“We are committed to playing our due role for educating fellow women about their issues, especially their rights to vote and education,” said councillor Shandana Naeem.

ANP councillor Nagina Jan said recalled it was Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, who had given full representation to womenfolk in his party, and that her party leaders and workers had contributed greatly to the women cause.

Published in Dawn, September 20th, 2015

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