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| MNA’s attack on women reserved seats resented |
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Sunday, November 08, 2009
Our correspondent
Islamabad
All chapters of Khawateen Mahaz-e-Amal (WAF) expressed their outrage at the latest male MNA attack on women’s reserved seats in Parliament, by calling them ‘Khairati (charity) seats.
WAF in a press statement issued on Friday demanded that the MNA who made this remark be made to apologise on the floor of the House. “If he fails to do so, he should be proceeded against under the just-passed Sexual Harassment Bill, as soon as it is adopted by the Senate and signed into law by the President,” it says. The statement also demanded that the political party of that MNA should also initiate strict disciplinary proceedings against him, as he has blatantly flouted his party manifesto and the constitution of Pakistan.
“We remind the un-parliamentary MNA that these reserved seats are the result of a long hard struggle by our grandmothers, mothers and ourselves, more often under brutal military dictatorships, and also under some indifferent, lethargic elected governments,” the statement adds.
It mentions, “It has not been an easy journey, and we are justifiably proud of the 33% reserved seats in the local government tiers, and the 17% reserved seats in the Parliament and provincial legislatures. In fact, it is our longstanding demand that they all be increased to 33%. The statement also demands modification in the mode of election to the reserved seats for women.
It says that two recent reports of research studies have demonstrated that performance of women legislators on the reserved seats by and large, is commendable, and, indeed, is far superior to that of their male counterparts.
“There is no excuse or justification for such insulting and humiliating language and behaviour towards women legislators from a male colleague. We also consider it a huge insult to the Pakistani women’s movement and women’s rights activists.”
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ISSN 1563-9479 
