HYDERABAD, March 8: Women's and human rights organizations and political parties held rallies and seminars in Sindh on Tuesday to observe the International Women's Day.

Speakers at different gatherings condemned barbaric customs of karo-kari and jirga and inhuman excesses committed against women. They demanded protection of women, special arrangements for their education and healthcare and repeal of discriminatory laws against them.

In Hyderabad, a procession was taken out under the banner of the Sindh Aurat Sabha, which started from outside the central prison, and after marching on main roads, terminated at the press club.

A declaration was read out by Rehana Channar, which regretted that although Pakistan was a signatory to the UN human rights declaration, women were being treated like slaves in the country.

It observed that the karokari bill was just an eyewash and it would remain ineffective unless the Qisas and Diyat Ordinance was repealed. The declaration condemned a criminal assault on a lady doctor of the Sui hospital.

A seminar was held at the Holm Stead Hall under the aegis of the Pakistan Women Councillors' Association. The women's wing of the People's Party Parliamentarians staged a march from Tando Yousuf to the press club, which was led by MPA Farheen Mughal and others.

LARKANA: Speakers at a seminar in Shahdadkot stressed the need for action against those indulging in killing women on the pretext of karokari. Khairpur District Nazim Nafisa Shah presided over the seminar which was held under the auspices of the Pirbhat Women Welfare Association.