PESHAWAR, March 8: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government will appoint a female ombudsperson in Peshawar 'very soon' to address women's complaints, said Awami National Party provincial president Senator Afrasiab Khattak on Thursday.

He welcomed legislation to curb harassment of women at workplace, domestic violence and customary practices and it had led to protection of womenfolk.

The senator said the government followed the teachings of ANP founder Bacha Khan, who sent his own daughter to school to encourage others to follow suit. He said man and woman were equal but unfortunately men often violated rights of women.

Other speakers, including ANP MPAs, highlighted role of women at home and in public life, and said no nation could progress without involvement of women in all spheres of life.

MPA Shagufta Malik, provincial vice president of ANP, said women in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Fata were threatened by terrorism.

"Girls' schools were blown up but they never gave up. This meeting of women even from far-flung rural areas despite threats of terrorism is worthy of appreciation. We want to celebrate this day like the rest of the world to make rural women aware of their rights," she said. During another function organised by the social welfare directorate in collaboration with UN Women and Peace Project at Archives Hall in the afternoon, participants said despite getting rights on paper, most women were unable to exercise their basic rights due to conservative environment.

Provincial information minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain, who was the chief guest on the occasion, said women were suppressed in the name of religion or culture by vested interests though the two never supported violation of women's rights.

He said in Pakhtun culture, women were so respected that once they came out with a sign of peace, it would end bloody wars.

"Our culture doesn't discourage education of girls but some people are so conservative that they do not let girls claim their basic right to education," he said.

The minister said joint efforts were needed to dispel wrong impressions and wrong attitudes about women.

He said women stood side by side with men in the terrorism-hit province and called for women's empowerment for the society's progress.

Chairwoman of provincial Commission on the Status of Women Zubaida Khatoon told participants that the Constitution had given women the right to vote but they were not allowed to do so in many parts of the province. She further said women had the right to education but were not allowed to go to school in many areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Ms Khatoon said the government had passed important laws to address serious violations and customary practices against women's rights but only their implementation would bring the sought-after meaningful change in the situation.

"Change of attitudes at individual and societal levels towards women will help bring change in various ways in the lives of women," she said. Professor Dr Johar Ali of University of Peshawar also highlighted the need for space in public life for women.