LAHORE, June 21: PML President Chaudhry Shujaat Husain on Tuesday stressed the need for the elimination of feudal culture to check violence against women. “Mukhtaran fell prey to a cruel system still prevalent in our society,” he said while presiding over the launching ceremony of a rare manuscript of Heer Waris Shah with its poetic rendering in Urdu by Shahid Hussain Zaidi.

A number of Sikh pilgrims currently in Pakistan in connection with the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh also attended the ceremony, organized by the Punjab Institute of Languages, Art and Culture at Alhamra.

“It is ironical that such cruel things are decided. To me, Heer and Mukhtaran are identical cases as decisions were imposed on them,” the PML chief said.

Chaudhry Shujaat said he had taken up the case of Mukhtaran Mai with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi.

The PML chief said organizations like the PILAC should be allowed to work on proper lines.

Recalling his meetings with Ustad Damman and Habib Jalib, he said they were men of principles and character. “Jalib Sahib was a family friend, but when I offered him a Rs500,000 cheque as minister for information he refused to accept it. We should respect such people.”

Scholars Syed Sibtul Hasan Zaigham, Kalyan Singh Kalyan, Maqsood Saquib, Shafqat Tanvir Mirza and chief guest Munnoo Bhai spoke about the poetic rendering by Shahid Zaidi.

Punjab Education Minister Imran Masood read the message of Shahid Zaidi.

Manzoor Hussain Malang also rendered some parts of the Heer Waris Shah at the ceremony.