KARACHI, Aug 25: Secretary General of the PML, Sindh, Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh has said that the party would play its due role in protecting rights of women and eliminating the menace of karo-kari from the province.

Mr Shaikh, who holds the portfolio of revenue and political affairs in the provincial government, was speaking at a meeting of the PML's women wing at the party office here on Wednesday.

He pledged that womenfolk would be given effective representation at town level in the provincial set up which would further be strengthened. President Musharraf, he pointed out, had taken the initiative of ridding women - 51 per cent of the population - of a sense of deprivation by granting them an effective representation in all democratic institutions.

"Now it is for the beneficiaries - women legislators, ministers and other elected representatives - to play their due role in strengthening the system. Announcing the name of Huma Nawab Talpur for the slot of secretary of Sindh PML's women wing, Mr Shaikh impressed upon the wing members to make preparation for the coming local government polls.

He directed Deputy Speaker of the Sindh Assembly, Rahila Tiwana, to hold open kachehries at the PML office every week with a view to solve problems being faced by women workers.

Ms Tiwana said that the local government election was a big challenge for the party and they could be met only when all the party members kept themselves above personal interest.