MARDAN, Nov 26: A discussion on honour killing and violence against women was held here at the office of the Integrated Rural Support Programme (IRSP), Mardan , in which representatives of a number of NGOs, local media, women activists and Naib Nazim, district council, Attaur Rehman participated.

IRSP Executive Director Shah Nasir Khisro, in his opening speech, highlighted the problem and sought solutions from the participants. The participants expressed concern over the recent increase in the number of cases of violence against women and said that these issues should be dealt with on a priority basis.

A social activist from Takhtbai, Waris Khan, said that honour killings and violence against women were the result of lack of education and awareness about rights of women. He called for efforts to educate people about the rights of women.

He said that no religion allowed the killing of a woman or man in the name of honour by an aggrieved party itself and the recourse in this situation was not to take the law into one's hand but legal action should be taken against the man or woman accused of having committed the crime.

Social worker Rufaqat Bibi said that there were a large number of vulgar and raw traditions and conventions in "our society and even educated people are not ready to quit them. Therefore, such evils exist and women are victims of these traditions and conventions," she lamented.

She said that both Sawara and honour killings were evils which had gripped whole society and there was an urgent need to rid society of this menace. Naib Nazim Attaur Rehman said that a collective struggle was needed against these vulgar traditions and culture and through concerted efforts the society could rid itself of these social stigmas.