Concerns voiced: Delay in naming chair of women commission

ISLAMABAD:

A parliamentary caucus of women parliamentarians expressed their concern over the unnecessary delay in the nomination of the chairperson of the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) on Friday and urged the government to expedite the process.

A press release issued by the NA secretariat stated that a meeting of women’s parliamentary caucus was held at the parliament house chaired by MNA Shaista Pervaiz Malik, who is also Secretary of WPC. Representatives of Awaaz National Forum and Aurat Foundation were also present in the meeting.

They also passed a resolution demanding that the government select chairperson of the statutory body as soon as possible. The commission has the powers of a civil court to investigate violence cases to ensure women’s rights at grass roots level.

The caucus also voiced their complaints against the Peshawar High Court’s verdict on PK-95 Lower Dir elections, which were earlier nullified by ECP.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 12^th, 2016.