Late Nigar Ahmad remembered for women rights’ struggle

Malala Yousafzai in video message asks women to come forward

PESHAWAR: The Aurat Foundation arranged a function in connection with the International Women's Day to honour a great women rights activist Nigar Ahmed and the youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai.

Late Nigar Ahmed, who passed away on February 24, this year, was remembered for her life-long struggle for women rights that earned her a wide respect. Speaking at a select gathering, Aurat Foundation Resident Director Shabina Ayaz said that Nigar Ahmed along with her close friend Shehla Zia (late) founded Aurat Foundation in year 1986.

"Her tireless efforts turned the Lahore-based Aurat Foundation into a national women's rights organisation," said Shabina of the late icon of the women rights struggle who was basically an educationist and a recipient of several national and international awards.

Another staff member of the organsiation, Saima Munir, and Arshad Haroon of South Asia Partnership also spoke on the occasion. They paid rich tributes to late Nigar Ahmed for giving voice to the voiceless women.

A video message of Malala Yousafzai sent from United Kingdom to the organisation in connection with March 8 was screened on the occasion as well. The teenager campaigner for girl education, who virtually had a new life after being shot at by militants in Swat in October 2012, spoke in Pashto about the importance of support of the male members of the family for a girl or woman. Malala urged women to come forward to empower themselves and exhorted men to support them.