ISLAMABAD, Feb 12: Women rights activists here on Saturday expressed their concern over what they said the increasing incidents of violence against women, and called for their equal rights in society.

They were speaking at a meeting organized to recall the police action against a group of women activists demonstrating in front of the Lahore High Court against the proposed Qanoon-i-Shahadat (law of evidence) on February 12, 1983.

The meeting titled "Women's struggle: challenges and threats" was organized by Women's Action Forum, Joint Action Committee for Citizens' Rights, Citizens' Action Group Against Honour Killings, Mubariza, Coalition of Rawalpindi-Islamabad NGOs, Citizen's Peace Committee, Women Councillors Network and Legislative Watch Group.

The participants criticized the government for its response to the rape of a woman doctor in Sui and termed it an attempt to cover up the involvement of the personnel of a security agency in the incident.

They also took strong exception to a recently-passed law on honour killings and violence against women and said its provisions were retrogressive.