HYDERABAD: A congress held by Women Democratic Front (WDF) here on Saturday demanded punishment to culprits involved in honour killing cases and murderers and tormentors of housemaid Fatima Furiro.

The congress, which elected its new provincial body comprising Prianka Hafeez (president), Abida Channa (general secretary), Sadia (secretary education and training), Saba Sindhi (media information) and Muneeba Hafeez (treasurer), raised the demand through 15 resolutions adopted by the gathering.

It opposed gender discrimination, sought withdrawal of patriarchal laws and called for legislation against child marriages and payment of minimum wages to workers. The congress also demanded land reforms, provision of jobs to the jobless youths, restoration of students union and release of political activists.

Women Democratic Front holds event; demands punishment to culprits of honour-killings, child abuse

Earlier, Awami Workers Party (AWP) president Zia Bhatti said at the gathering that women were being killed in the name of honour in upper Sindh and tribal disputes were claiming many lives every day. Privatisation was taking place under the dictates of IMF and World Bank, he said.

About Israel aggression on Gaza, he said that Israel was killing innocent Palestinians with the blessings of America and European imperialism. The entire Palestine had been turned into a graveyard, he said.

Prianka Hafeez said that Sindh was facing various ‘ailments’ including tribal and honour killings, forced conversion, sexual assaults on children, child marriages, mega housing projects for acquiring pricey land and destruction of education and health sectors.

She said that people were made to face price hike, unemployment and other issues in the name of so-called democracy while depriving them of resources.

WDF secretary Alia Bukhshal, Marvi Latifi and others also spoke.

Two sessions of congress were held in which members from Karachi, Jamshoro, Larkana, Naseerabad and Daulatpaur took part. The congress’s open session was attended by activists of political parties, forums and students organisations.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2023