KARACHI, Sept 26: Representatives of major political parties have said that if their respective parties are voted to power, they will repeal ‘discriminatory and derogatory laws of Hudood Ordinance and Qisas and Diyat provisions’ incorporated in the Pakistan Penal Code.

The speakers, Nasreen Jalil representing the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Dr Mirza Ikhtiar Baig from the Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians and Mamnoon Husain of PML (N) expressed the commitment of their respective parties to do away with the discriminatory laws against women at a pre-poll seminar organized at a local hotel here on Thursday.

This face to face dialogue with the election candidates on women’s rights issues was organized by the Legislative Watch Programme (LWP) and the Aurat Foundation.

Speaking on the occasion, Nasreen Jalil strongly condemned Wednesday’s killing of seven Christians and termed it a barbaric act and murder of humanity.

Referring to the political scenario, she said that for the last 50 years, a particular group was ruling the country and safeguarding their interests.

Regarding her party’s policy, Nasreen Jalil said that the Muttahida wanted the empowerment of the middle class. She said that her party is against all male dominated and feudal laws which should be done away with.

Suggesting a uniform stance against the all discriminatory laws against women, she said that all parties should converge and decide to scrap such laws.

Outlining some major points of her party’s manifesto, she said that female education at the primary level would be made free, while education upto class 10 would be made compulsory.

Nasreen Jalil said that women should be give representation in the legislative bodies, so that they could participate at the decision making level.

Referring to the party manifesto, candidate of the PML (N) Mamnoon Husain said that education is the top priority, especially women’s education. He said that if their party is voted to power, the entire primary education system would be handed over to women for a period of five years.

Regarding the discriminatory laws against women, Mamnoon Husain said that his party fully endorses the repeal of such laws.

Referring to the shelter homes for women, he said that the conditions of existing homes would be improved in order to make them more livable.

Stressing the need for the economic empowerment of women and pointing out his party’s programme, Mamnoon Husain said that new vocational training centres would be set up, so that women can stand on their own feet.

Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians candidate Dr Mirza Ikhtiar Baig also elaborated his party position on discriminatory laws against women and said that the PPP fully endorse repealing all such laws.

Pointing out what he termed some landmark steps of the PPP, Dr Baig said that the establishment of the First Women’s Bank, women’s police stations, setting up of crisis centres and the appointment of women judges were all done when the PPP was in power.

He termed domestic violence against women, such as stove burning and wife bashing as criminal acts.

Representing the Millat Party, part of the National Alliance, its candidate Javed Jabbar said that 33 per cent representation of women in all elective bodies is part of the founding documents of the Millat Party.

He said that his party endorses the repeal of discriminatory sections of the Hudood Ordinance.

Referring to the participation of women in the forthcoming elections, he said that women workers of his party were actively taking part in electioneering.

Candidate of the PML (Q), Wajid Jawwad, said that laws like Qisas and Diyat Ordinance have been widely misused in our country, as people started to settle their personal scores under cover of these laws.

He said that the country’s image at the international level suffered due to the misuse of these laws.

Representing Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Dr Arif Alvi, a candidate contesting for the provincial assembly, said that his party is for equal opportunities for women at all levels.

Referring to his constituency of Baldia Town, Dr Alvi said that women and small girls from the area still form queues to obtain water. He said that the recommendations of the permanent commission for women headed by Justice Nasir Aslam Zahid should be fully implemented.

Referring to the economic empowerment of women, Dr Alvi said that micro-credit schemes have proved to be a big success and the PTI would adopt such schemes for women.