KARACHI, Jan 18: A non-governmental organization working for women rights, condemning the government's decision to reduce the number of seats for women in the local bodies , have demanded that not only the decision be revoked but the number of the women seats be increased.

The demands were made at a press conference organized by the Aurat Foundation at the Press Club on Tuesday. The foundation chief, Anis Haroon, Uzma Noorani, Nuzhat Shirin, Shamim Warsi and others said that presently around 36,000 women councillors were actively participating in the local government system, and trying to solve the issues being faced by the women.

They said that women make 50 per cent of the total population of the country and when the government gave 33 per cent representation to the women it was being felt that gradually the percentage of women representation would gradually be increased and eventually would be brought at par with that of men, which was 50 per cent.

They also rejected the excuse being forwarded by the government for reducing the number of women seats that after a cut in the number of councillors, they would be given honorarium.

They argued that the Balochistan government was already paying the honorarium to the present number of councillors, adding that the issue of honorarium depended on the set of priorities of the government.

They also criticized the method through which the decision of reduction in seats had been taken, arguing that at present the assemblies were in place and were working, so even if the government had to take any decision in this regard, the proposal should have been brought into the assemblies, to discuss it from all angles.

They said under the present system, there were chances that the candidates having lesser financial resources could contest polls and win, but with lesser number of seats it would become difficult for poor candidates to contest poll, and the grip of powerful political families would get stronger on the local bodies.

They said that the decision to curtail the number of seats would also affect the entire process, and the candidates for the posts of nazims and naib nazims would be able to easily influence lesser number of councillors.

They said that by allocation of around 33 per cent seats for the women, the country was being seen as a progressive nation in the world community, but this decision to curtail the seats would send wrong signals regarding the country to the international community.

They urged the intellectuals, scholars, activists, workers, political parties, and civil society organizations to come forward and resist this 'anti-women' decision taken undemocratically by the government.

Responding to a question regarding the rape of a doctor in Sui, they said that various women organizations had been trying to approach the victim, but had so far been denied the access. They demanded that civil society organizations be allowed to interview the victim and that she and her family members be provided security.

They said that nobody was above the law, adding whoever the rapists were, or to whatever institution or agency they might belonged, they should be arrested and given stern punishment according to the law.

Responding to a question regarding another rape victim- a Karachi house maid- who had been burnt, they felt unsatisfied with the treatment being given to her, and said that since the victim had been burnt to 98 per cent, so the hospital staff had taken it for granted that she would die.

They said that the victim might die owing to the improper treatment and the evidence and case against the rapists would get weaker. They feared that the government machinery was intentionally spoiling the case against the influential and moneyed rapists.