PESHAWAR, May 9: The women MPA of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal have made no contribution so far to the recent session, the NWFP assembly records have revealed.

It has been observed that the MMA’s 13 women MPAs occupying reserved seats sit “reserved” during the sessions, whereas those of the opposition have not only actively participated in the discussions but have moved resolutions as well.

One MMA MPA, Nargis Zain, had vowed to move a call attention notice to draw the attention of the house to the deteriorating condition of some schools in Swat, a few days ago, but she left without uttering a word.

Ms Nargis Zain said that as the session was called on the request of the opposition they were told in their party meeting to let the opposition talk.

Another MPA, Naeema Akhtar from Mardan had made similar claim of wanting to raise the issue of teachers of Islamiat and Nazira.

It would be a record of sort that the session which was prorogued on Thursday did not see the MMA women attired in black burqas utter a word during the over two-weeks’ proceedings.

Surprisingly, these women are quite outspoken at private gatherings such as seminars, political observers say.

Pir Muhammad Khan, also an MMA MPA observed: “In the presence of their brothers (male members), there was no need for them (female members) to speak on any issue.”

On the others hand Riffat Akbar Swati of PPP (Sherpao) moved a call attention notice recently that 16,000 cartons of edible oil donated by the World Food Programme for schoolchildren which, if not distributed by the end of June, would pass the expiry date.

The education department responsible for the distribution paid no heed to it, and she kept on pressing by raising points of order and moving adjournment motions. Later on, a house committee was formed to look into the matter.

On the day when the session was prorogued, Dr Zakir Ullah Khan, an MMA member, moved a resolution that only women should conduct ultrasound and ECG tests on women patients in all the public and private hospitals. Dr Seemin Mehmood Jan of PML-Q, opposed this resolution saying that it was an impractical suggestion.