KARACHI, March 24: Women parliamentarians at a seminar on “role of women in politics” on Monday stressed the need for creating an awareness among women about their rights and responsibilities, as enshrined in the Holy Quran and the Hadith.
In the wake of enhanced representation of women in the national and provincial assemblies and the Senate, it was the need of the hour to create an awareness among women to prepare themselves for actively participating in the affairs of society and state, they said at the seminar, organized by the public relations committee of the Mass Communications Department of Karachi University.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Saeeda Malik, Sindh minister for health and population welfare, praised the government for enhancing women’s participation in both the houses of parliament and provincial assemblies, saying it would help a lot in elimination of injustices against the womenfolk.
“It is for the first time in the history of the country that women have a large number of their representatives in policy-making institutions. Let’s hope they would work for the betterment of the 52 per cent population of the country”, she added.
She maintained that elimination of discriminatory laws was among top-most priorities of the government. Literacy, empowerment of women through enhancing their participation in all walks of life and women’s representation in assemblies was part of government’s policy in this regard, she added.
Urging educational institutions, especially universities to assist the government in highlighting the issues confronting women, she said only academics can come up with viable and concrete solutions for resolving the problems and for ending discrimination.
Deploring that the conditions for working women were the “worst” at their respective workplaces, she said the government was trying to establish women hostels, day-care centres, besides provision of legal aid and more employment opportunities to them.
Chairperson, Pakistan Peoples Party (Shaheed Bhutto), Ms Ghinwa Bhutto, said that the assassination of her husband Mir Murtaza Bhutto compelled her to enter politics as it was difficult for her to leave her two children on others and raise voice for others’ issues.
“I have seen a civil war during my childhood and it is different from the war against Iraq. Everywhere around the world, women are being targeted. Enhancing participation of women in assemblies does not mean that they have been empowered”, she viewed.
She said unless women are empowered by their fellow women, they would remain powerless, as those who would enhance women’s participation in assemblies, would have the intention to strengthen themselves.
PPP MPA Fauzia Wahab said education and literacy was key to empowerment of women and it was now up to students to play their role and create an awareness among ordinary women about their role in politics and affairs of the society.
She was of the view that women in Pakistan were not weak in any respect, contrary to that legacies and traditions of the society are weak. Criticizing killing of women in the pretext of honour killings, she said they would try to end all such black traditions.
She urged students, especially girl students, to concentrate on their studies, as only education can empower women and create an awareness among them about their rights and responsibilities.
Representative of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Zehra Shahid in her speech stressed the need for promoting education and literacy among women, as according to them, it was the sole remedy for their issues and problems.
“Politics is the highest form of public service, but unfortunately politics in Pakistan had become a means of self-gain. Women would have to take part in the affairs of government and play their role in making things a little better”, she added.
Aisha Munawar, MMA MNA, discussed the role of women in politics and said for the last few years women had been actively participating in national activities and affairs.
“Some people allege that Islam restricts women’s participation in politics and employment. Islam gives a detailed description of woman’s role in their homes and outside their residences”, she maintained.
She said in the name of women’s rights, women were being exploited in the Western world as it had become a show-piece in their society, whereas their family system had also been shattered.
“In addition to religion, one should look at cultural traditions and boundaries and then raise voice for rights and role of women in the society. Provoking women to leave their house-hold responsibilities and play their role in politics will endanger our family system, and will hamper the upbringing of children and performance of male members of the family”, she maintained.
She urged the participants to review the role of women parliamentarians in the betterment of women, population welfare, elimination of discrimination against them and many other issues confronting women.
MQM MPA Nighat Mirza, MCD chairperson Dr Shahida Qazi, dean faculty of arts Dr Abu Zar Wajidi and Fauzia Naz also spoke.—PPI
KARACHI, March 24: Women parliamentarians at a seminar on “role of women in politics” on Monday stressed the need for creating an awareness among women about their rights and responsibilities, as enshrined in the Holy Quran and the Hadith.
