May 30, 2003	Friday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 27,1424

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MINGORA, May 29: Participants at a community public meeting have asked the government to set up a crisis centre, community centre and hostel for women in Swat.

The meeting was held by the Aurat Foundation here this week to brief the people on Mera Ghar (my home), a shelter for the helpless women, set up recently in Peshawar by the foundation and German Technical Cooperation in collaboration with the NWFP Social Welfare Department.

Ms Samar Minullah, an anthropologist from the Aurat Foundation, gave an account of the rights given by Islam to women, but unfortunately overlooked and denied to the women of NWFP as part of the customary practices.

She said there were many positive features of Pakhtunwali such as nanwatay (giving protection to one who seeks it, be it even one’s own enemy), melmastiya (hospitality) and ghairat (fervour with which a Pakhtun protects his or her honour).

The project manager of Mera Ghar, Dr Riffat Aziz, gave background of the project, briefing the audience on the functioning of the shelter and facilities to the crisis-hit women under it.

She explained that though the project provided a temporary shelter to the destitute women, such women’s reconciliation with their estranged husbands and reintegration into society were the ultimate aims of this facility.

Around 170 people hailing from different sections of society attended the meeting. Swat District Nazim Dr Mehboobur Rehman was also present on the occasion.