PESHAWAR: Welcoming the extension of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Commission the Status of Women (KP-CSW) Act, 2016, to the Provincial Administered Tribal Areas, representatives of civil society on Thursday demanded the effective implementation of all women-related laws.

KPCSW coordination officer Abdul Qadir told a news conference at the Peshawar Press Club on Thursday that his organisation had the powers to review all provincial laws, rules and regulations affecting the status and rights of women.

“It also suggests repeal, amendments or new legislations essential to eliminate discrimination, safeguard and promote the interests of women and achieve gender equality in accordance with the Constitution of the country and obligations under the international covenants and commitments, including Pata,” he said.

Programme coordinator of Blue Veins Qamar Naseem said the extension of the KPCSW Act to Pata was a landmark achievement.

“Now, the KPCSW can monitor the mechanism and institutional procedures for the redressal of violation of the women’s rights, individual grievances and facilities for social care, and undertake initiative for better management and efficient provision of justice and social services through the forums and authorities concerned,” he said.

The representative of Blue Veins called upon the country’s president to extend the scope of women-friendly legislations, too, to Pata using powers given by Article 247 of the Constitution.

Coordinator of the Pakhtunkhwa Civil Society Network Taimur Kamal said the Pata residents were unfortunate as the acts of parliament were not applicable to them unless the KP governor issued a notification of its applicability there after the president’s approval.

He regretted that the bills passed by the provincial assembly, too, were not applicable to Pata.

Minority rights activist Radesh Tony said the laws promising equality and protection for women had never been extended to Pata.

“Treated as personal property, the women’s fate is tied to tribal customs. They (women) have limited recourse as the underlying component of tribal society is patriarchal. The women live by the rules of engagement set by men,” he said.

Human rights activist Shafiq Gigyani said the laws justifying tribal customs denied women the right to gender equality and fueled religious intolerance and violence.

Lawyer Sana said the government should immediately extend all laws protecting the personal rights of the people to Pata and Fata with the complete institutional framework needed for their implementation.

Published in Dawn, September 22nd, 2017