ISLAMABAD: In a message on the eve of former Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Benazir Bhutto's 63rd birth anniversary, former president Asif Ali Zardari said his party rejects declarations made by 'male chauvinists' against women's rights.

In a statement released by party's media cell on Tuesday, Zardari condemned what he called "systematic assault on women's rights" by "male chauvinists in the name of religion".

"It is worrying that, in the name of religion, obscurantist elements are increasingly suppressing women, some even calling for violence against them," reads the statement.

Vowing to fight such elements till the end, the former president added that his party condemns and rejects such declarations made by semi literates in the name of religion.

Zadari also paid rich tribute to the political workers who laid down their lives or suffered hardships in the struggle to bring democracy to the country.

"On the eve of Benazir Bhutto’s birthday, we salute them all," the PPP co-chairman said.

Earlier this year, the Punjab Assembly passed a women’s protection bill, which the CII and religious parties strongly rejected, declaring it ‘unIslamic’.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government sent a similar bill to the Council for review, which it rejected on the basis of being ‘unIslamic’, and announced it will prepare a ‘model’ bill in response.