KARACHI, Sep 24: Women candidates representing different religio-political parties have assured massive socio-economic opportunities for women in the country following their success in the coming polls.

Addressing a seminar on the “Role of Women in National Politics”, organized by the women wing of the Jamaat-i-Islami (Karachi) at the Karachi Press Club here on Tuesday, the speakers sought to negate the impression that religious parties are against active women participation in different spheres of life.

They took strong exception to the constant maligning of political parties as well as politics itself as a field in the country.

Dr Farida Ahmed of the JUI, Ayesha Munawwar and Rabia Alam of the JI, Begum Imtiaz Javed of the PAT, Begum Tanvir Khalid of the PML(Q) and Aasiya Tariq of the PTI were among the speakers.

Urging the people to take active part in national affairs, they expressed regret over the apathy and indifference of the people, particularly women, towards the political affairs of the country.

They said politics was a tool to seek progress and development and frequent interventions had led to the derailment of the political system in a country acquired through the political process.

Tanvir Khalid, however, disagreed with their stance and suggested that political parties review their performance over the years.

She said low literacy rate and poverty were the major factors preventing the masses from take a meaningful interest in politics.

Ayesha Munawwar, president of the Women Commission, Jamat-i-Islami, called upon women candidates belonging to all political parties to make maximum use of the opportunity offered to them through considerable representation in the parliament.

Aasiya Tariq, Dr Farida Ahmed and Begum Imtiaz Javed read out their party manifestos with particular reference to provisions for women.—APP