September 12, 2007	Wednesday	Sha'aban 29, 1428

PESHAWAR, Sept 11: Local clerics have extended support to civil society organisations in their efforts against the menace of trafficking of women.

This was stated by prayer leaders of several mosques in their meeting with the activists of a local non-governmental organisation, The Noor Education Trust (NET), on Tuesday.

According to a press release, the NGO, which has been working for protecting women from all kinds of violence, has been able to win the backing of the prayer leaders in raising awareness about human trafficking that is fast spreading in the poverty-stricken areas of NWFP.

The NGO is addressing the issue through one of its several projects aimed at building alliances to combat human trafficking. The meeting was held to inform the clerics on the severity of the issue and request them to use their podium for discouraging the menace of human trafficking.

Maulana Niaz Ali, Imam of the Wadpaga Jamia Masjid, shared two case studies of women of his area. He said women were usually subjected to trafficking in the name of customary practices such as dowry, adding the reason for that was poverty, lack of education and willingness on the part of the parents.

Maulana Asmatullah, Imam of the Najoi Jamia Masjid, vowed to play his role in the campaign against the practice and pointed out that the major responsibility rested with the nazims who had the power to stop such ills in the community.