QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch said on Friday that no religion, culture and norms allowed torture of women and added that steps would be taken to ensure legislation aimed at curbing violence against women.

Addressing a Round Table Conference organised by the USAID and Aurat Foundation here on Friday, he said: “We oppose torture of women and are going to legislate to stop domestic and other types of violence against women.”

He said that killing of polio workers in Quetta on Wednesday was a bitter example of violence against women. However, he added, his government had devised a foolproof security plan to continue polio eradication campaign in the province.

The chief minister said that curbing terrorism and eradicating corruption were priorities of his government, adding he was aware of the fact that socio-economic development could take place only in presence of durable peace.

“We are ready to provide complete security to international donor agencies and other organisations working for the welfare of people of Balochistan,” he said.

However, he added, the private sector and other stakeholders should also extend assistance to the government to bring improvement to the living standard of people.

Mr Baloch said special attention was being paid to different projects in order to remove backwardness from the province and solve socio-economic and socio-political problems confronted by women. “I will encourage legislation for women development to make women part of mainstream politics,” he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Aurat Foundation representative Simi Kamal highlighted the role of the Foundation to curb violence against women and resolve other issues faced by them.

Later, talking to media persons, the chief minister said that departmental action would be taken against police personnel who showed negligence in providing security to polio workers.

In reply to a question, he said a session of the Balochistan Assembly had been summoned to conduct a debate on the law and order situation.

Provincial Minister for Women Development, Mir Izhar Khan Khosa, MPA Samina Khan of PML-N, MPA Dr Shama Ishaq of National Party and MPA Spozmai Achakzai of Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party also spoke.

Published in Dawn, November 29th , 2014