Women alliance concerned at KP Assembly resolution

PESHAWAR: The End of Violence Against Women and Girls (EVA) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, UN-women alliance of the civil society organisations on Thursday expressed concern over the act of some Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly women lawmakers to pass a resolution against the women’s rallies held on the Women’s Day.

A press release said a meeting of the EVA KP chapter, supported by the UN-Women was held here about the present status of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Domestic Violence against Women Bill, the murder of rights defender Afzal Kohistani and cancellation of women cycle rally in the provincial metropolis. The meeting was held under the supervision of its KP chapter chairman, Dr Fida Jan and members from various civil society organizations at the UN-Women office.

The EVA members from the civil society organisations, including Imran Takkar, Syed Afzal Shinwari, Taimur Kamal, Zartashia Shah, Sufian and Eiman attended the meeting.

The meeting expressed concern over the act of the KP women lawmakers, who passed a resolution against the women rallies on the Women’s Day and stated that due to the appearance of some placards, the whole women rights defenders were blamed and criticised for it, which was a condemnable move.

In the meeting, it was discussed that though the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had tabled the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Domestic Violence against Women (Prevention and Protection) Bill 2019, after its tabling, no one knows about the amendments and status of the bill.

The EVA also condemned the murder of Afzal Kohistani, a whistle-blower in an infamous “honour killing” case and demanded a judicial inquiry and action by the Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights over the killing of Afzal Kohistani. The meeting also expressed concern over non-issuance of NOC and security for holding of women cycle rally in Peshawar, against which the non-government organisation Pak Development Commission had moved the Peshawar High Court.