KARACHI, July 25: The Sindh minister for Women Development, Dr Saeeda Malik, said on Sunday that writers, journalists and intellectuals should wage a crusade for eliminating crimes against women.

" The present government was making utmost efforts for the welfare of the womenfolk, but it are only the writers and intellectuals that can create awareness among the masses with regard to what is being meted out to women," she said, while addressing the launching ceremony of a book "The Other Half: discrimination against women" written by Mohsin S Jaffri.

Commenting on the book, the minister said the author had discussed several issues connected with crimes against women with suggestions as to what was required to be done for eliminating such crimes.

"The style of writing and his approach to the subject reflects his broader understanding of the issues," she said, adding," Perhaps, because of his (Mohsin) long exposure to the western environment, he holds balanced views and very much a liberal approach to an environment where women must be treated equally, given a rightful place in society, and allowed to make their own decisions about their way of life."

Dr Saeeda Malik said that essays in the book examined the conditions of women in the country, particularly, the injustices meted out to women by discriminatory laws and social customs.

It is much more than a catalogue of problems faced by women, she added. The unique thing is that the author has suggested remedies and course of action for policy makers and legislators. - PPI