PESHAWAR, March 8: Women activists of the Awami National Party observed the International Women’s Day in a different way by offering special prayers for peace in the region.

They said women and children were the ultimate sufferers in wars, conflicts and disasters; therefore they should come forward and strive for the lasting peace and stability in the region.

The women wing of the ANP organised the function at the Bacha Khan Markaz on Thursday.

Women activists of the party from various parts of the province participated in the function.

ANP provincial general secretary Mian Iftikhar Hussain and provincial information secretary Syed Aqil Shah were the only men members who attended the hours-long programme as special guests.

MPA Farah Aqil Shah was the chief guest on the occasion.

Shamim Qaisar Khan, Sakina Rehman, Momin Pari, Shagufta Malik and Mehnaz spoke on the occasion.

Jamila Gilani read out a Pashto poem from Rehmat Shah Sail’s book.

An Urdu chorus song was also sung by Jamila Gilani, Farah Aqil Shah, Shagufta Malik and others about the dignity and rights of women.

The collective prayer for peace was offered by Mian Iftikhar Hussain calling for stability and social, political and economic development in the area.

He said that due to ignorance and illiteracy people were being used both as victims and weapons for the sake of others.

He called upon women to play their role in making their children as peaceful and law-abiding citizens.

He criticised elements who were barring women from going to schools and creating hurdles in their way of obtaining modern education.

“We can face the challenge of terrorism and extremism in the society through modern education and proper guidance,” he said.

He said that the ANP supported equal rights for women from the very beginning.

He said that men and women should not cross the limits defined by nature and the society. He said that freedom did not mean that a woman claims man’s status in the society.

He said that unfortunately ours’ was a feudal and tribal society where a woman was considered a personal property. “We have to change this concept” he added.

He cited examples from the life of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan and Khan Abdul Wali Khan who advocated equal rights for Pakhtun women.

Farah Aqil Shah said that she would introduce a bill in the NWFP Assembly, regarding wages, jobs security and social protection of domestic maids working in the houses.

She hoped that no one would oppose the bill as domestic maids were being exploited and nominal wages were being paid to them.

She said that we should treat women like human beings and give them equal opportunities in every field of life, saying that an educated woman was more aware about her rights and responsibilities than an illiterate one.

Other speakers underlined the need for adopting effective measures both at public and government levels.