LAHORE: A number of women on Sunday participated in rallies taken out in many parts of the country under the banner of the Jamaat-e-Islami on the International Women’s Day.

Held under the title Youm-e-Takreem-e-Niswaan (a day to pledge respect for women), the participants carried placards and banners inscribed with slogans like ‘My Body-God’s will’, ‘Respect of Women-Respect of Nation’, and ‘We are mothers, sisters and daughters.’

They demanded uniform curriculum and equal opportunities of education, end of harassment culture at workplaces, separate women universities and health facilities and enforcement of principles of Islam in the country.

In Islamabad, JI Emir Senator Sirajul Haq addressed the participants who earlier marched from the National Press Club up to China Chowk.

In Lahore, women marched from Nasser Bagh to the District Courts on Lower Mall.

Begum Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Begum Sirajul Haq, Samia Raheel Qazi, Dr Zubaida Jabeen, Rabia Tariq, Dr Zeba Waqar, Faiqa Salman and others were among the participants.

JI General Secretary Ameerul Azim and Lahore chapter emir Zikrullah Mujahid addressed the rally. Speaking to the participants, Ameerul Azim lamented that certain elements were trying to exploit the slogan of women rights and attack Islam in the garb of their campaign for the so-called human rights. He said a majority of women in the country were deprived of their rights by the ruling elite, feudal lords and the capitalist system.

Those in power, he added, never wanted to implement the laws granting women every right in society. The ruling elite, he said, must be held accountable for their sins.

“Women should question the rulers why they have been deprived of their rights.”

Deputy Emir Liaquat Baloch said the participation of thousands of women in the JI rallies proved that Pakistani women would never allow westernisation and secularisation of society. He said Islam and the Constitution of Pakistan granted every right to women and there was an urgent need to implement them.

MINHAJ: The Minhajul Quran Women League organised a conference to mark the day.

The moot passed a seven-point resolution calling for implementing the constitutional guaranties for education, health, justice and employment to women and issuing annual reports on the existing situation; setting up new educational institutions for women to achieve the target of achieving 100 per cent girl literacy rate.

Published in Dawn, March 9th, 2020