MINGORA: Tabassum Adnan was elected the first speaker and Ms Sajida deputy speaker of the first women assembly of Swat here on Thursday.

The election for speaker and deputy speaker of the assembly was held in pleasant environment in which members of women assembly used their right to vote.

The women assembly was formed under the Aurat Foundation’s voice and accountability programme, Awaz, with women’s representations from all 67 union councils of Swat district.

The women assembly has 33 members, including 30 on general seats and three additional seats – one each reserved for minorities, transgender and disabled person.

Tehsil nazim Ikram Khan administered oath to the elected office-bearers and hoped they would work sincerely for the uplift of women rights in Swat. He said that the assembly should focus on women issues and work on them.

“Nurturing women to bring them on leadership positions and create support base for legislative demands and their implementation are major objectives of the women assembly,” said Nisar Alam, district coordinator of Aurat Foundation.

Tabassum Adnan vowed to fight for the rights of women through the assembly’s platform.

“We are faced with child marriages, women trafficking and violence against women, so we will try to resolve all such issues,” she told Dawn.

Nasim Akhtar, one of the members, said that formation of the women assembly was a positive step towards women’s empowerment.

Published in Dawn, January 8th, 2016