HYDERABAD, March 8: The members of district council, while urging the government to ensure strict implementation of the newly-enacted Women's Protection Act, have expressed concern that despite enactment of the Act, excesses against the most vulnerable section of the society continued.

In speeches delivered by the council members after convener Zafar Ali Rajput allowed and clubbed together three resolutions on issues faced by the women they paid tributes to the government and MQM Chief Altaf Hussain and PPP Chairperson Ms. Benazir Bhutto for jointly getting a bill through the parliament on the issue that had been pending solution since a long time.

Naseema Khan, Shamim Qadri, Raeesa Begum, Farhat Khan, Rana Siddiqui and Parveen Lodhi had tabled three separate resolutions, hailing government's decision of granting 33 per cent representation to women in the assemblies and saying that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) had introduced the culture of respect to women.

Zahida Memon came hard on those who criticised women for turning up in assemblies after having make up and said make-up is something that suits women alone. She said that men always tried to dominate women and praised media and NGOs for raising women's rights issues.

She said that despite enactment of new law, atrocities continued against women and cases of Naseema Lubano, Shahzadi and others continue to come on surface.

Mehboob Abro said that despite enactment of Women's Protection Act, excesses continued against women adding that upper Sindh had become a centre of injustices against them.

He, however, urged the women to come forward to raise voice for their own rights and survival.

Q.Mohammad Hakim said that the new Act reflected true aspirations of women in the country and said that even UCs and district governments could play a pivotal role in providing relief to women.

He proposed establishment of women welfare centre in the district after utilising funds allocated for them in budget adding after amending section 79 of SLGO 2001, monetary help could be given to women.

Rashid Khan said that women constituted 51 per cent of the country's population but there were cases where women themselves were the tormentors.

He said that Islam doesn't permit any discrimination against women because it was the religion which calls for parity between women and men.

Dr. Arif Razmi argued that women were living in a male dominating society and, for making their presence felt, they would have to work hard. He said that paradise, promised by God, could be achieved by people if they served their mother. He slammed those who believed in barbaric customs of karo kari.

Rana Siddiqui also tabled an out-of-turn resolution, seeking utilisation of funds of Rs6 million earmarked for women in district council's budget. She said that these funds could be spent in distribution of sewing machines, bicycles, hand pumps among deserving women and people.

The convener referred Zahida Memon's resolution regarding laying of double track on Hyderabad-Mirpurkhas road to works and service committee after she pleaded that heavy traffic always plied on the road, causing congestion on the road. She said that road was also used by personnel of armed forces and even ambulances got stuck up in chaotic traffic conditions.

Munawar Khan Zai, a member of the district council's works committee, responding to her contention informed the house that a bridge is under construction and would be completed in one year.

He said that Mirpurkhas-Hyderabad road was outside the domain of the district government as it was a provincial government's affair.

A resolution, opposing shifting of offices of DDO revenue and Mukhtiarkar Hyderabad (rural) taluka to Tandojam, was referred to the revenue committee for placing its recommendations before the council.