MPs discuss women’s issues

Islamabad
Female parliamentarians discussed issues being faced by women in a consultation convened in connection with International Day of Women.
The press briefing followed day-long deliberations on ‘Commemoration of International Women’s Day with Council for Women Parliamentarians (CW)’ organised by Sustainable Development Policy Institute in collaboration with Trocaire International here on Tuesday.
MNA Ayesha Syed said that SDPI meetings bring us on one page to meet hurdles in the way of women’s rights for which education is a must. She said we raise gender issues in the house in the form of points of order, adjournment motions etc. She said that pregnant women die before delivering in her Dir area. She said that punishment should not be delayed as it encourages criminal elements. She said that parties should have such intra-party elections which promote poor and deprived women.
Romina Khurshid Alam from PML-N said that we talked with each other also in connection with forced conversions and early child marriage.
MQM Senator Nikhat Shakeel said that whereas NA standing committees complain of no attention, the Standing Committees in the Senate hold detailed discussions. She asked for visiting and counseling with women from remote and neglected areas.
PTI MPA Maleeha Khan said that we deliberated upon problems on which legislation is required. She liked political empowerment of women. She called for electing female MPs through general elections for which a quota could be fixed.
Dr Abid Qaiyum Suleri said that we had invited members from all assemblies. He said Beijing moot in 1995 agreed on 12 points regarding health, education, conflict, environment, child issues etc. He said that empowering women is empowering humanity. He said that empowerment is going to emerge. He said that BISP is not enough. He said that conflict-affected women should be brought into network to earn an honourable life. He called for special legislation for special women. He said that SDPI will provide help in research and drafting legislation.
Mome Saleem, Research Coordinator, SDPI, said it was a course meeting developed by SDPI to empower women in connection with International Day of Women when Beijing+20 is going on in New York.
Punjab MPA Faiza Malik underscored the harmony witnessed in today’s deliberations.
Australian High Commissioner Peter Heyward said that authorities in Pakistan understand the issue and hoped some improvement in this respect.
In the question hour, an MQM legislator lamented that number of women seats were reduced in Sindh.