Ghotki, Jacobabad, Kashmore, Shikarpur described as ‘killing fields for women’

KARACHI: Sindh’s renowned writers, intellectuals, women’s rights activists, and civil society members described the four districts of Sindh Ghotki, Jacobabad, Kashmore, and Shikarpur as the “killing fields for women” and demanded for strict laws to mitigate their sufferings.

This view was expressed at a grand women’s conference organized by the Sindh Suhai Organization and the Joint Action Committee in Mirpur Mathelo. The theme of the conference was “Women’s Equality, Self-Sufficiency, and the Struggle for Sindh’s Resources.” The event was attended by large number of participants who described the proposal to construct six Cholistan canals

from Indus as a conspiracy to destroy the provincial economy and livelihood of hundreds of thousands of people and as such would be not be tolerated.

“The women at the conference pledged to struggle alongside their brothers in the campaign to deprive their province of water.”

The conference featured speeches by Dr. Aisha Dharejo, Ayaz Latif Dayo,

Inam Sheikh, Assistant Commissioner Rida Talpur, and representatives from Surmiyon Cultural Organization Islamabad, including Gulnaz Sheikh, Nida Paras Dayo, Farzana Khosa, Asma Batool, Sindhu Hasan, Tabassum Khosa, Isa Memon, Raouf Paras Dayo, Ayaz Khahawar, Zarqa Shar, Azhar Nounari, Mark Manan Chandio, Imdad Phulpoto, Sahil Jogi, Barkat Mirani, Syed Ashraf Shah, Shanal Khosa, Khalid Kori, and others.

Various sessions were conducted highlighting issues concerning women. The conference collectively held the class-based system responsible for outdated customs and agreed that until the feudal, landlord, and tribal systems in Sindh are eradicated, women will remain deprived of their rightful rights.

The speakers emphasized that no society in the world, discriminates against genders in its religious teachings, but the Sindhi society is not even prepared to consider women as humans.

They were of the view that the sole reason of the humiliation meted out to women flows from the state’s apathy and the absence of the rule of law. A strict law, like the one that outlawed Sati (burning of widows) by British governor of Bombay Presidency Charles Napier, only could help alleviate their sufferings.

Referring to global history, they said society cannot achieve progress without empowering women. Some modicum of progress visible in the Sindhi society is due to the achievements of women like Noor-ul-Huda Shah, Samira Zareen, Rasheeda Hijab, and other courageous women.

However they conceded that the issues and priorities of urban and

rural women differ significantly. They described districts like Ghotki, Jacobabad, Kashmore, and Shikarpur to have turned into killing fields for women where the largest number of crimes against women are reported.

Demanding an end to the dark and oppressive traditions imposed on women, the speakers were of the view that all intellectuals and activists of Sindh must unite to struggle to ensure women’s protection and their rightful status in society.

On the occasion students from Shaheen Public School staged tableaus and songs, highlighting women’s issues and their struggles.