HARIPUR: There was a need of a close working relationship between the lawyers’ fraternity and human rights organisations for combating gender-based violence in the society.

This was stated by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bar Council Chairman Malik Khaliqdad Advocate while addressing participants of a capacity-building session for lawyers here on Friday.

The session ‘establishing and strengthening lawyers’ network for combating gender-based violence in Haripur’, was arranged by Dastagir Legal Aid Centre, a project of Human Development Organisation (HDO).

Advocate Khaliqdad said discriminatory attitudes against women were the root cause of violence against women, which was not a good omen for a society that claimed to be semi-Islamic and semi-liberal.

“When neither Islam nor worldly laws permit disrespect for women growing number of cases of gender-based violence in the courts is an indicator of moral degradation of society,” he said, adding proper education, awareness and a strong legal system could help change the negative attitudes against women.

He said the KP Bar Council had initiated different programmes for capacity-building of young lawyers, adding lawyers from Hazara, especially women, would be facilitated to help achieve the objective of providing free legal aid to victims of violence.

Former divisional president of PPP women wing Gulnaz Rasheed Advocate said social pressure and family’s respect were the stumbling blocks in the way of taking the perpetrators to justice as the victims found themselves vulnerable to such social taboos.

She urged the women to get out of fear and speak out against the anti-women societal attitudes.

Agha Shabar Abbas, coordinator Dastagir Legal Aid Centre, briefed the participants about the psycho-social and legal support the centre was providing to the victims of gender-based violence besides creating awareness against the menace.

AL-QUDS DAY RALLY: MajlisWahdat-ul-Muslimeenworkers on Friday took out a rally to observe the Al Quds Day.

The rally started from Imamia Masjid Mohallah Motiyan, and the participants carrying banners and placards reached the main Chowk after marching on different roads.

On the occasion, MWM secretary general for KP Allama Waheed Kazmi condemned the occupa-tion of Al-Quds Mosque and territories of Lebanon and Palestine by Israel.

He also criticised the US for opening embassy in Jerusalem, besides condemning the 41-country alliance of Islamic states for what he said promoting the Saudi interests in the region.

SECURITY AT BUS STANDS: The local police have warned the managers of bus stands of strict action if they do not take proper security measures.

The warning came at a meeting between the police officials and representatives of the bus terminals in the Haripur city on Friday.

DSP headquarters Mohammad Sabir chaired the meeting.

The bus stands’ managers were asked to ensure the security cameras installed at their outlets were functioning and in case of power loadshedding the back-up system was in place.

The police authorities also asked the transport managers to keep an eye on movement of miscreants and pick-pockets during the rush hours and inform the police immediately.

Published in Dawn, June 9th, 2018