HYDERABAD: Organisers of Aurat March Hyderabad have expressed disappointment over inadequate allocation for the resolution of women’s issues in Sindh budget 2022-23 and demanded their proposals be included in the budget of social welfare and women development departments.

In a statement issued here on Wednesday, the march organisers Amar Sindhu, Haseen Musarrat Shah, Rubina Chandio and Rozina Junejo regretted that an appeal was made to Sindh chief minister for making special allocation for women but it was apparently not heard.

They said that Women Action Forum compiled 63 cases of honour killing between July-December 2021, 86 cases of suicide and 57 cases of domestic violence against women and they had demanded establishment of shelter houses in all districts as well as hostels for working women in Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur and Larkana for the working women from other towns.

They said that girls, who wanted to acquire higher education in universities in these cities, had to return to their villages due to non-existence of hostels, and the women who wanted to work had to leave as they were offered low wages.

They said that despite having pro-women legislations, Sindh government did not come up with a clear-headed strategy for the resolution of women’s problems.

They said that a clear policy was lacking about women empowerment in economic, education and health sectors. It appeared that ruling Pakistan Peoples Party, which gave first women prime minister to the country, did not attach priority to the question of women and right from non-existence of women’s agenda to present budget was disappointing, they said.

They said that adequate budget should be earmarked for working women’s hostels in Karachi, Hyderabad and Sukkur and called for provision of transport to overcome dropout ratio of girls from schools, colleges and universities. Interest-free loans should be provided to women for buying rickshaws and motorcycle rickshaws to launch their own businesses, they said.

They urged the chief minister to include their proposals in the budget of social welfare and women development departments.

AT censures federal govt

Awami Tehreek president Dr Rasool Bux Khaskheli and senior vice president Abdul Qadir Ranto have said that federal government and establishment are facilitating former dictator Pervez Musharraf in spite of the fact that he has been awarded capital punishment by court.

In a joint statement issued here on Wednesday, they urged rulers to clarify their position and answer which law allowed the government to protect culprits. The statement of federal ministers had negated constitutional provisions, he said.

They said that silence of judiciary on the facilitation of Musharraf must be causing soul of judges like Waqar Ahmed Seth turn in their graves.

They demanded punishment for proclaimed offenders and their abettors so that no one could think of violating the constitution in future.

Published in Dawn, June 16th, 2022