MPAs close ranks promise to end gender inequality

Pass resolution calling for recognition of women's inclusive role in all significant matters

KARACHI:

On the auspicious occasion of International Women's Day, the Sindh Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution on Monday, demanding an end to gender inequality and the marginalisation of women by recognising their inclusive role in all significant matters.

The resolution was moved separately by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) MPAs. Senior members of the said parties, including Sindh Women Development Minister Shehla Raza, Rana Ansar, and Adeeba Hasan moved it.

The resolution reads: "This house commemorates International Women's Day and urges upon the world to recognise the dignity of women. It calls upon the nations to abrogate gender inequality in all forms and manifestation and remove all barriers that resist women empowerment."

With the lawmakers putting the agenda for the day aside, women's day and their rights dominated the session.

The MPAs-mostly women- from the treasury and opposition joined hands on the issue.

Around 15 MPAs spoke and paid tributes to women in Pakistan and demanded that they be given their rights.

In the resolution, the lawmakers said that women are an integral part of society who have successfully performed their role as wife and caretaker of the home and stood against social evils. They added it was unfortunate the plight of women in Pakistan was deplorable. Harassment, sexual abuse, honour killing and domestic violence were rampant and they faced discrimination at home and the workplace.

The house recommended that the government took necessary policy initiatives for the empowerment of women.

Raza demanded an end to all violence and discrimination against women.

Moving the resolution, she suggested pursuing policies that guaranteed fundamental human rights for women and provided equal education and job opportunities to them, as well as financial opportunities and freedom, independence, security and respect.
Mohammad Hussain of the MQM-P called upon the government to implement the laws made for women.

"We pass laws, but implementation on the same has been a challenge," he said.

PTI's Hasan, Heer Sohu and Ghazala Siyal of the PPP and others also spoke on the occasion.

Pandemonium

Earlier, the house witnessed pandemonium once again when the ruling PPP and opposition members levelled allegations against each other.

The uproar started in the house after opposition members protested when their MPA Aslam Abro went to take a seat on the treasury benches.

Khurram Sher Zaman of the PTI demanded that the MPA be removed from his seat. The protesting opposition members stood up in front of the speaker's podium. Sindh Livestock Minister Imdad Pitafi taunted the opposition to first probe against those PTI MPAs who had not voted for the GDA candidate during the recent Senate election.

Amid these chaotic scenes, the speaker adjourned the session and resumed proceedings after ten minutes. After the session, PTI's Firdous Shamim Naqvi told the media that no one from his party in Sindh Assembly had betrayed the GDA.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 9^th, 2021.