PESHAWAR, March 13: Federal Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao has said womenfolk have always played an important role in national affairs and without their participation the country cannot achieve real progress.

Mr Sherpao, who is chief of his own faction of the Pakistan People’s Party, was talking to women members of District Council, Charsadda Tehsil Council and various union councils who announced their decision to quit the Awami National Party or Pakistan Muslim League-N and join the PPP at the People’s House on Sunday.

District councillor Zahida Hameed, tehsil councillors Farah Yaqub, Bakht Meena Nisar, Faras Begum, Mahar Qanda, Begum Shamim Jan, Gulshan Ara, and Nargis Bakhtiar and union councillors Basraj Bibi, Nasim begum, Parven , Brishna Gul, Wahida, Ghazala Naz, Shahida, Halima Bibi, Raffat Gul, Sana Gul and Eani Siddique reposed full confidence in the leadership of Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao.

Mr Sherpao said it was for the first time in the history of Pakistan that President Pervez Musharaf had given effective representation to women in local governments. This representation had enabled them to resolve their problems at local level. He said women had also been given representation in the parliament and provincial assemblies where they were playing constructive role in nation’s progress.

Mr Sherpao said various federal ministries had allocated hefty funds for women development and women should come forward to guide the government on the best use of these funds. He said with the help of lady councillors the PPP would not only strengthen itself in the local bodies but would also improve its overall position among masses.

He said women would be elevated to various party positions on the basis of their performance. He asked women to come forward and participate in the organisational activities.

MPAs Sikandar Hayat Sherpao, Nasreen Khattak, PPP’s provincial Senior Vice-President Ghanidad Khan, Nazim Charsadda Syed Masoom Shah and others were also present.