LARKANA: Various events were held in Larkana, Hyderabad, Jacobabad, Mirpurkhas and other parts of Sindh to mark the National Day of Women on Friday.

Participants in the rallies, seminars, walks and demonstrations highlighted the issues like gender discrimination, domestic violence and exploitation of womenfolk on class, religion and other grounds.

In Larkana, a rally was organised jointly by the Community Social Support Programme (CSSP) and the district administration.

Led by social welfare deputy director Gul Naz Abbasi, the rally started from the Govt Girls College and ended outside the local press club. Ms Abbasi, Ms Sujhata of NGO Rozan, Dr Pirh Sakina Gaad, Dr Dayali Gul, Sheela Bhatti, Advocate Farzana Mahisar, Asma Abro, Afzal Shaikh, Shafique and Omar Gul Burirro spoke to the participants and called for creating awareness of women’s rights.

In Jacobabad, a similar rally was taken out by NGO Voice of New Generation. It set off from Shaheed Allah Bukhsh Park and ended near the local press club where it turned into a public meeting.

Speaking to the participants, Qamar Bano, Qurban Ali Odhano, Hazar Khan Thaheem, Abdul Hafeez and Nadeem Behrani said women were being killed under karo-kari and other such customs. They demanded legislation to curb such customs.

In Hyderabad, a rally was organised by the Enhanced Democratic Accountability and Civic Engagement programme. Prominent among the activists who attended the rally included Dr Ashothama of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and Nasir Panhwar of the Sindh Rural Partners’ Organisation.

Published in Dawn, February 13th, 2016