MITHI: Activists of Awami Tehreek and its sister organisation Sindhiani Tehreek took out rallies and staged demonstrations in several Sindh towns on Sunday to register protest against all forms of violence against women, child marriages, honour killings, karo-kari and sang chatty.

In Mithi, AT and ST workers took out a rally and staged a demonstration at Kashmir Chowk where local leaders of the two parties, advocate Wasand Thari, Kirshan, Shazia Junejo and others hit out at the Sindh government for its failure to implement laws against child marriage and honour killings.

They held the Pakistan Peoples Party government responsible for the lingering outdated custom of child marriages which they claimed was a major factor behind unabated deaths of infants and pregnant women in Thar.

They said the government-run hospitals faced serious shortage of funds for purchasing medicines and urged mining firms operating in the area to give priority to Tharis in jobs.

BADIN: AT and ST activists took out a rally which started from Kazia Canal bridge and terminated outside Badin Press Club.

Local leaders Jakhro Nuhani, advocate Kamran Lakho, Marvi Gopang and others who led the protest said that patronisation of Jirga system and feudalism by the government had led to an increase in the incidents of violence against women.

They said the government had completely failed to save women from atrocities being perpetrated against them with the help of elected representatives and influential persons.

They demanded equal rights for women, end to honour killings and stern action against Jirga and feudal system.

UMERKOT: AT activists held a demonstration, urging the government to curb all forms of violence against women.

Dr Amar Lal, general secretary AT Umerkot chapter, said that incidents of honour killing, rape, murder and sale of underage girls into marriage were on the rise but no one was ready to save lives of women.

Naval Rai Meghwar, legal adviser to AT, said that laws about women’s rights were not enforced adequately. As a result, suspects in cases of violence against women were not convicted and they resumed their cruel acts with ever greater vigour.

Santosh Kumar said that Pakistan was a signatory of various conventions of United Nations on women but the state had completely failed to implement them.

He urged the government to order SHOs to register cases of violence against women on behalf of state. The government should ensure such cases were pleaded properly and reached their logical conclusion in order to save helpless girls and women, he said.

MIRPURKHAS: Activists of AT and ST took out a rally which terminated into a demonstration in protest against outdated customs targeting women at local press club.

The protesters led by Noor Bano Khoso, Dr Dildar Leghari and Ghaffar Narejo chanted slogans as they marched on main roads before arriving at the press club.

Ms Bano said that outdated black customs which were religiously followed to this day, particularly in upper Sindh were a proof to government’s failure in enforcing its writ.

She demanded the government impose a ban on all customs targeting women and award exemplary punishment to the perpetrators of violence against women.

Published in Dawn, February 19th, 2018