Headless body: Early appointment of NCSW chief urged

Forum expressed immense concern at the recent developments that have left NCSW without the office of Chair

ISLAMABAD: The Women Action Forum (WAF) criticising the court’s decision that sent packing chairperson of a women’s commission has demanded early appointment of a chairperson on interim basis to oversee upcoming election activities with gender perspective.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Forum expressed its immense concern at the recent developments that have left the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) without the office of Chair. Commenting on the judgment the forum it said: “the judges should be cognisant of the impact of their judgments on the functioning of national institutions. Leaving NCSW without the Chair is equivalent to stalling the work of this much needed national institution.”



On February 6, 2018, in its judgment, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had set aside the appointment of NCSW Chairperson Khawar Mumtaz on grounds that the decision of the selection of final name by a seven member committee formulated by then Prime Minister was out of the scope of the NCSW Act, 2012.

Dr Farzana Bari had filed the petition against the appointment, who was one of the candidates for the position.  The commission has been working since 2000 to provide strategic input to government and non-governmental institutions to promote “social, economic, political rights of women as provided in the Constitution of Pakistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 4^th, 2018.