HYDERABAD: Speakers at a consultative meeting organised by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) at the local press club on Sunday expressed their grave concern over increased anti-women tendencies in Sindh’s society. They called for a boycott of all those who manifest anti-women attitude.

They also condemned a hate campaign against women activists on the social media.

Celebrated writer Noorul Huda Shah said she was quite hopeful about Sindh when she attended the ‘Ayaz Melo’ organised by the Women Action Forum (WAF). She said she used to present progressive narrative whenever she visited cities in Sindh and Punjab. She said she felt disturbed when graves of Mallah community members were desecrated in Sann.

She said she always wished that men like Rasool Bux Palijo should reach the Sindh Assembly and talk about Sindh. But this still remained a wish, she added.

“Nationalists advocate cause of Sindh but they are away from people,” she noted.

Ms Shah pointed out that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf was using Sindh’s youth on the social media. “This platform is replete with filthy stuff against women,” she said.

HRCP Sindh coordinator Qazi Khizar said that “Sindh’s women are fully aware now ... they raise questions and state institutions are afraid of their questions”. He called for running the country’s all affairs according to the Constitution and law.

Former advocate general of Sindh Yusuf Leghari called for a boycott of all those who would demonstrate anti-women attitude. He claimed that those who challenged forced conversion faced aggressive attitude on the social media.

Noted writer Jami Chandio said that the society was witnessing chaos and increased extremism. He held elements within different political parties responsible for the situation. A lack of leadership was another cause of crisis, he added.

WAF leader Arfana Mallah said there were many women rights activists in Karachi and Lahore but only she and her fellow Amar Sindhu were targeted on the social media. “We talk about women’s rights which is not liked by certain people ... they hail from Sindh; they are educated or even intellectuals.”

Amar Sindhu said “Sindh’s intellect had given plenty of love but a particular class exists that hates us”.

Published in Dawn, October 18th, 2021