KARACHI, March 7: A large gathering of rights and trade union activists organised a vigil and took out a rally at the Karachi Press Club on the eve of the International Day for Women on Wednesday.

Mukhtaran Mai, the international icon for the rights of suppressed women, led the rally, which started from the Press Club and end at the same venue en route Maulana Din Mohammad Wafai Road and Sarwar Shaheed Road. Gang-rape victim, Naseema Labano of Ghotki, was also among the hundreds of the participants carrying earthen lamps and chanting slogans for the rights of women of Pakistan. Human rights activists were among the participants.

The gathering adopted resolutions on the occasion in which the government was told to repeal the Hudood Ordinance as a whole, particularly the Zina ordinance.

They also demanded the repealing of Qisas and Diyat laws, which, according to them, were promoting the menace of honour killing and rendering the recently-passed the Women Protection Act irrelevant.

The gathering also expressed concern on attacks on women politicians and demanded a complete ban on all anti-women organisations which act against girls’ education and women’s participation in political and economic activities.

The participants, through another resolution, also demanded the strict enforcement of the ban on illegal Jirgas.

The International Women’s Day is being observed on Thursday (today).