HYDERABAD, April 17: The leaders of the Women Councillors Network, Sindh chapter, have expressed disappointment that the prime minister while announcing his 100-day agenda had totally ignored 52 per cent population of the country and had announced no programme for women’s welfare.

Speaking at a news conference at the press club here on Thursday, the Sindh chapter president of the newly formed network, Afroze Shoro, general secretary, Naseem Gul Bhatti, and others said that the prime minister had made historic announcements such as restoration of sacked judges, repeal of IRO-2002, FCR and Pemra amendments, revival of trade and student unions, ban on use of luxury cars by government functionaries, restoration of provincial autonomy and opening new avenues for employment.

They said that people of the country had heaved a sigh of relief over the good beginning but women were disappointed as they had been totally ignored in the agenda.

The leaders of the network reminded the PPP that during the election campaign it had made tall claims to undertake welfare programmes for women and eradicate violence against them.

They expressed concern over the silence of the government to resolve the problems of 52 per cent population of the country who were being subjected to violence and killed in the name of honour.

They said that it was for the first time in the history of the country, that with the cooperation of a women development organization, Patan, Women Councillors Network had been founded and its elections were held on March 8 in Islamabad.

They said this network had its units in 300 union councils and 60 talukas of 24 district of the country.

They said the main objective of the network was to struggle for emancipation of women and to ensure their representation in all tiers of the government right from union councils to the parliament.

They said the office-bearers of the network will hold dialogues with female members of the provincial and national assemblies for the implementation of their manifesto.

They demanded of the government to announce a special package for women, take notice of violence and other excesses against them and repeal all anti-women laws.

They demanded of the members of the parliament and political parties to implement the manifesto of the network and to provide protection under the 1973 Constitution to the local government system.

They said that the network will oppose terrorism in all its manifestations, be it individual, group or state-terrorism and added that development and progress was unthinkable without peace.