ISLAMABAD, Aug 19: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Women Development has condemned the barring of women from voting in the local bodies elections in certain parts of the country and has demanded that the Election Commission of Pakistan should declare the election in those areas null and void.

The committee, which met with Begum Mehnaz Rafi MNA in the chair, termed it a violation of basic human rights protected by Islam and guaranteed by the Constitution.

The meeting also discussed the performance of crisis centres established by the ministry of women development and expressed its satisfaction with their performance. However, it asked the ministry to focus on establishment of crisis centres in the rural areas.

The committee was informed that 10 crisis centres had been established one each at provincial capitals and others in areas where cases of violence against women had been reported.

Secretary of the ministry told the committee that the centres were being further diversified and besides provision of legal/social counselling, facilitates for boarding/lodging would be provided to women subjected to violence and distress.

The committee also called upon the electronic and print media to fulfil its social responsibilities in creating awareness among women of their rights.

The committee was of the view that majority of affected women were reluctant to approach the law- enforcement agencies due to lack of awareness and uncooperative attitude of the law enforcers.

The committee, therefore, decided to invite provincial secretaries for women development and inspector-general of police to discuss the issue pertaining to violence against women in its next meeting.

The meeting was attended by MNAs Prof Asiya Azeem, Khalid Iqbal Memon, Jamila Ahmad, Khalida Mohsin Qureshi, Shamshad Sattar Bachani and Maimoona Hashmi.