DADU, March 30: The Awami Tehreek president, Ayaz Latif Palijo, has called for amendments to nikahnama form to ensure that after marriage a woman's right to education and employment is guaranteed.

He termed Qisas and Diyat law defective which had been proved beyond doubt in the Raymond Davis case.

He was addressing a gathering of women at the district council hall here on Tuesday evening held in connection with the centenary of International Women's Day. A large number of women attended the gathering which was organised by civil society organisations. He said that today women are insulted in relief camps as circumstances have forced them to beg.

He dwelt at length on the role of women in Sindhi society in the past and present.

Referring to female characters of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai, he said that the Sufi poet had glamorised Sohni who used to go to meet her beloved despite warnings by her husband. Today, he said, women are condemned even for expressing their will to marry a man of their choice.

Similarly, Mr Palijo said, Sassui loved Punhoon although he did not belong to her clan. Today women don't have any right to express their desire to marry someone not belonging to their community, he added.

Chairperson Human Rights Forum Dadu, Rubab Jafri, said that only 21 per cent women are literate in Dadu and demanded that education should be given priority. She said that a complaint cell for human rights has been set up in Dadu. Ms Jafri said in Pakistan women were tortured when they demanded their rights.

She said that Lady Health workers were tortured, arrested when they were protesting for their rights. Unless equal rights are given to women, the society would never develop.

PML-N women wing leader Zahida Mangi and local leader of Sindhiyani Tehreek Husna Rahujo also spoke on the occasion.