Legal status demanded for Women Caucus

PESHAWAR:

Chairperson Women Parliamentary Caucus (WPC), MPA Dr Sumaira Shams on Sunday said that WPC be given legal status as the caucus achieved great success by approving 15 legislations from the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly this year on several issues.

She expressed these views during the 3rd General Body meeting of the caucus. The meeting besides others was attended by MPA Madiha Nisar, Ayesha Bano, Rabia Basri, Somi Falak Niaz, Zeenat Bibi, Shahida Waheed, Shagufta Malik, Sajida Hanif, Aneeta Masood, Ayesha Naeem, Rehana Ismail, Naeema Kiswar, Aasia Khattak, Dr Aasia Asad and Samia Bibi.

She said that introduction of centralized call system titled ‘Bolo Helpline’ was another big milestone of the caucus through which women could lodge their complaints. She revealed that the complaints would be further forwarded to department concerned for action.

The participants of the meeting discussed several issues including liaison with police, law and home department on the issue of women smuggling, registration of nikkah at tehsil and union council levels, non-availability of women paramedic staff in the hospitals, Hindu marriages and arrangement of character building training for women. The participants recommended making legislation on these issues which would help overcome domestic burden on women.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 6^th, 2021.