BISP team holds talk on ‘Honour Killings’

Islamabad

In order to increase empowerment, dignity and meaning to life among beneficiaries of Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), the BISP team organised a talk on ‘Honour Killings’ on Wednesday.

The initiative titled ‘BISP Empower Talk’ aims at encouraging idea generation, success transfer, motivation and inspiration for BISP beneficiaries. Chairman Senate Senator Mian Raza Rabbani attended the event as chief guest. Ambassador of Argentina Rodolfo Jose Martin Saravia, Ambassador of Sweden Tomas Rosander, Ambassador of Tunisa Adel Elarbi, Hungarian Ambassador Istvan Szabo, South African High Commissioner M. Jele, Spanish Ambassador Javier Carbajosa Sanchez, Egyptian envoy Said Mohamed Elsaid Hindam and Ambassador of Denmark Helle Nielsen also graced the occasion.

The event was attended by members of parliament, diplomats, representatives of government organisations, national and international organisations, media, civil society and a large number of BISP beneficiaries.

The talk was presented by Haleema Bhutto from district Ghotki whose land was grabbed by her husband illegally by levelling a false allegation of adultery on her. She was declared "Kari" by the "Panchayat" in order to grab her land.

Karo kari is quite common in Pakistan and is often used for ulterior motives. She spent one and half years on footpaths of Islamabad protesting against the cruelty and injustice meted out to her. Finally, Supreme Court took suo motto notice, decided the case in her favour and ordered the police to give her full protection and get her land back to her.

Haleema Bhutto, while addressing BISP beneficiaries, narrated her life story. She shared the experiences of suppression and injustice she faced and the steadfastness she demonstrated to raise her voice against tyranny. She expressed her faith in the strength of beneficiary women who in the face of hardships stand for the welfare of their families. She said that BISP beneficiaries are lucky that they are receiving social and financial assistance from this organisation which is very helpful in solving the problems of hunger and poverty.

The chairman Senate, on the occasion, acknowledged the role of BISP in motivating and inspiring its beneficiaries towards the goals of better life.

He appreciated Haleema Bhutto for standing against the odds of society and referred her as a role model for the women.

He added that no society in the world can be civilized unless it ensures gender equality and fundamental rights to women.

On the occasion, BISP Chairperson Marvi Memon said that the objective of ‘BISP Empowers Talk’ is to put women role models in front of most vulnerable women of Pakistan to encourage them to get out of misery created by poverty and other discrimination.

She added that the present government is committed to give dignity, empowerment and meaning to the lives of beneficiaries through such initiatives besides BISP’s core mandate of cash transfer.

Chairperson BISP wished Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy success on behalf of 5.2 million BISP beneficiaries for winning her next Oscar.