HYDERABAD, March 8: The International Women’s Day was observed in all major cities and towns of interior of Sindh on Wednesday. Political parties, social welfare organizations and women’s rights activists organized seminars and held rallies to highlight problems of women.
The seminars and rallies adopted resolutions demanding repeal of the Hudood Ordinance, trial of women cases by women judges, elimination of customs like karo-kari. It was also demanded that women should be given the right to choose their own life partners without any pressure from family members.
In Hyderabad, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan’s special task force organized a seminar at the press club.
The seminar, presided over by special task force coordinator Nasreen Shakeel Pathan, demanded equal opportunities of jobs for women, establishment of special cells in the police department to deal with cases of violence against women, marriage rights to girls etc.
A seminar on “Women health and environment” was held at the Mehran Arts Council.
Speaking as chief guest, DCO Mohammad Sharif Awan stressed the need for bridging the gap between urban and rural women.
He said rural women were more vulnerable and they were unaware of their rights. He said that due to tribal culture, women were subjected to inhuman atrocities, including karo-kari.
He said Islam was the only religion which had guaranteed all rights and security to women.
The women’s wing of the People’s Party Parliamentarians held a function at the press club.
MPAs Sassui Palijo, Farheen Mughal and Makhdoom Jamiluzzaman and Hina Dastagir demanded equal rights for women and protection of their self-respect.
The Institute of Women Development Studies, University of Sindh, organized a function to eulogize services of noted educationist Prof Maryam Sultana Noohani.
The Jamaat Ahl-i-Hadees, women’s wing, and the Fundamental Rights Commission Pakistan organized a seminar on “Rights of women in Islam”.
A function was also held in the women’s jail. The Pakistan Human Rights Forum and other NGOs held rallies outside the press club to mark the day.
NAWABSHAH: District Nazim Faryal Talpur has said social evils like karo-kari, poverty and lack of education are obstacles in progress of women.
She was speaking at a seminar on “Bol Ke Lab Azad Hain Terey,” organized by the district government in collaboration with SZABIST and the Citizen Action Committee.
She said rural women worked hard in fields along with men but they could not progress due to lack of education.
She said the government was making efforts to provide educational facilities in each corner of the district to promote women’s education.
Lala Hassan Pathan, regional joint director of the Aurat Foundation, said the state itself was involved in cases of women and child abuse. He said 242 women had been arrested last year in different cases.
Earlier, tableaux were presented by students of the SZABIST Intermediate College, Govern-ment Girls School, Gharibabad, and other institutions.
The district nazim, MPA Ghulam Qadir Chandio and the DCO distributed shields and certificates among educationists, journalists and students.
NAUSHAHRO FEROZE: Speakers at a seminar have observed that women are the marginalized and deprived segment of the society who can be liberated by empowering them.
The seminar was organized by the National Commission of Human Development.
KHAIRPUR: Sukkur division People’s Lawyers Forum president Liaquat Ali Shar has regretted that NGOs claiming to be working for women’s rights are limited only to paper work.
Speaking at a programme to mark the women’s day, he said hollow slogans and claims were being made about resolving the issue of karo-kari.
SUKKUR: Rallies and public gatherings were held on Wednes-day on the eve of International Women’s Day. In a public gathering at Sukkur House, PPPP MPA Mehreen Bhutto, Falak Naz and others demanded abolition of Hudood Ordinance, and protection of women’s rights according to constitution.
Dear visitor, the comments section is undergoing an overhaul and will return soon.