A call-attention notice was submitted in the National Assembly on Wednesday by women lawmakers from the PML-N regarding the persistent denial of inheritance rights to women.
Minister of State for Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani informed the house that a total of 1,772 complaints had been registered regarding the denial of inheritance to women.
He added that a dedicated helpline had also been established to address such grievances.
"The federal ombudsperson is playing an active role in the matter of ensuring women receive their rightful share in inheritance," the minister said, while calling on the judiciary to expedite proceedings in inheritance cases involving women instead of issuing stay orders that delay justice.
Speaking on the issue, PML-N MNA Shaista Pervaiz Malik questioned the gap between legislation and enforcement. "The truth is, there are ample laws in place concerning women's rightstell us, where is the implementation?"
Kayani acknowledged the issue, saying, "I concede that the inheritance laws related to women are not being implemented effectively".
PML-N lawmaker Asiya Naz Tanoli deplored that women were often deprived of their rights by local panchayats and jirgas, which continue to function parallel to the formal legal system.
At this, the state minister said that women have access to complaint registration via the 1099 helpline.
Meanwhile, Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party chairman Mehmood Khan Achakzai, who also heads Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Aain, tabled a resolution urging the house to ensure that women receive their full share in inheritance.
"Any Muslim who denies a woman her share in inheritance in contradiction to the Quran is in violation of its commandments," Achakzai said.
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