KARACHI, Jan 3: Systematic discrimination against women, sometimes leading to maternal death and disability, was depicted in a play staged by a theatre group in the Arag Auditorium of Dow Medical College on Saturday.

The drama, presented by the "Tehreek-i-Niswan", showed how a baby girl was forced to play second fiddle to a male baby, as a result becoming undernourished. It also depicted how taboos and traditional beliefs weighed down on her.

The drama, organized in collaboration with the Civil Hospital Karachi's obstetrics and gynaecology department, showed how a woman was forced into an early marriage, forcing her into the role of a mother even before she could mature emotionally and physically.

The women often faced oppression and abuse and healthcare was denied to them in an overwhelming number of cases. This, in too many cases, resulted in maternal death or disability.

After the play had been staged, Prof Sadequa Jaffery praised the efforts of "Tehreek-i-Niswan" in highlighting the plight of women. She said the medical students were often ignorant of the circumstances under which the Pakistani women gave birth to children.

She said more than 40 million babies took birth every year. "And in childbirth something like 30,000 women lose their lives every year," she said.

In the time that the play had been staged, said Dr Shershah Syed, four Pakistani women had died during childbirth and up to 60 had been disabled. He pointed out that "Tehreek-i-Niswan" had staged the play in several cities of Sindh.

"Soon this play will be staged in some other cities and towns."

Some DMC students of third and fourth year also expressed their views on the occasion. One student was of the view that men should be educated about the rights of the women.

Another student said religion was misused in an effort to keep the women "under control" at all times. "So when we talk of educating the men, and also the society at large, we should ensure that certain misconceptions about Islam should be dispelled."

One student said women were an oppressed lot as they not only faced maternal deaths but also "dowry deaths". He said the men should be taught to respect the rights of women.

Mehvish, a house officer, said the society should exert pressure on all men and mother-in-laws to mend their ways.