HYDERABAD, April 27: Active participation of women in all walks of life was imperative for the prosperity of a country. This was the unanimous opinion of the political leaders who spoke at a seminar on “Importance of women’s role in electoral process” organised by the Strengthening Participatory Organisation (SPO) and other NGOs at the Sindh Museum.

A joint struggle needed to be undertaken to ensure the women’s participation in different activities, they said adding they needed leaders like Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah, Begum Nusrat Bhutto and Ms Benazir Bhutto who had guts to challenge the authority of dictators.

Depoliticising of the society had lead to usurping of rights of citizens which could only be reinstated after the restoration of democracy, the speakers stated.

Chairman Sindh Taraqi Passand Party Dr Qadir Magsi, informing the gathering of the high esteem people of Sindh gave to womenfolk, said Ms Bhutto’s coming into power was a living example of it. The extent to which a woman was given respect was beyond imagination as their intervention at times saves the murderer from the wrath of a victim’s relatives, he added.

Sindh today, said Magsi, was engulfed in tribal wars wherein at least 10 lives were lost daily in tribal clashes. Raising the point of feudal system, he said, hardly any cases were registered as the Sindh society was in the clutches of a feudal system.

Elections in Pakistan had become a farce with bogus voters rigging these in one way or the other.

Provincial General Secretary PPP, Nafees Ahmed Siddiqui said people had lost interest in exercising their right of franchise because of rigging which disappointed voters.

The country could only progress with an active participation of women while the civil society was duty-bound to protect their rights, he said.

Former provincial secretary Mehtab Akbar Rashidi said women in their society were prevented from performing a vital role in political process as a large number were still not issued the CNICs and a majority of them belonged to the Sindh province.

Naseer Memon said the sanctity of votes had never been preserved since the inception of Pakistan, adding political parties should jointly strive to ensure women's rights.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement MPA Aslam Parvez advocate said his party had always championed for the cause of women.

Others who spoke on the occasion included the MMA leaders Abdul Waheed Qureshi and Taj Mohammad Nahiyoon, Haris Khaliq, Ms Kalpana Devi advocate and Madam Tanvir Junejo.