ISLAMABAD, Jan 12: Violence against women will soon become a cognizable offence and the victim will be able to sue the lawbreaker, the minister for women development, Attiya Inayatullah, said here on Saturday.

“Violence against women will be made an offence and law in this regard has already been drafted which will be placed before the cabinet for approval at an appropriate time,” the minister said. while speaking at the launching ceremony of “Zahida Parveen Trust”, organized by the Crisis Centre for Women in Distress under the auspices of the Ministry for Women Development and Social Welfare.

Zahida Parveen hit the headlines five years ago when her husband, Iqbal, seriously injured her. The trust is being set up to provide her sustenance on long-term basis.

The minister said every sixth women in the world was a victim of domestic violence. She quoted the US where the cases of wife-battering were more than any country of the world.

Since to counter domestic violence was one of the item on government’s agenda, every possible step will be taken to ensure that women are given their rights, she said.

The National Task Force, which is looking into the issue of law-making and later on its implementation, had already given its final report.

“Similarly, the ministry has decided to launch a national awareness campaign through media so that women are given their due respect in our society,” Dr Attiya said.

“Our target is to do away with traditions alien to Islam or for that matter to our society,” she added and promised to increase the number of crisis centres in the country.

“I am sure that within the next three years, the ministry will be able to establish crisis centres in every district of Pakistan.”

She said the ministry had engaged almost 300 NGOs to work for the said cause in collaboration with crisis centres.

Earlier, Project Manager of Crisis Centre for Women In Distress, Islamabad, Ms Zaman Aslam, presented the annual report of the centre.

She said the centre was providing legal and medical aid, besides, shelter to those women thrown out of their hoimes by their husbands. The head of the National Task Force, Dr Naeem Ashraf, said the government was serious in helping destitute women.

In the end, some victims, solaced by the crisis centre, shared their experiences with the participants.