KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that women are equal partners in Pakistani nationhood and any attempt to isolate, degrade or deprive them of the rights as equal citizens of Pakistan would be vehemently resisted by the PPP.
In his message on the even of International Women’s Day, PPP Chairman stated that his Party has always fought for women’s equal rights since its very inception and shall continue the struggle for the emancipation of women from all the injustices and atrocities.
From Fatima Jinnah and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto to Malala and Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, the women in Pakistan have always led from the front for nation’s quest for progress, prosperity, peace and equality during the democratic struggle.
Both Begum Nusrat Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto braved torture and solitary confinements while leading the nation’s movements for restoration of democracy.
Bilawal Bhutto said as per the vision of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, PPP elected women as Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, inducted women judges in higher judiciary, established First Women Bank, launched special projects for women health and family planning, separate police stations for women, started an internationally-acclaimed Benazir Income Support Programme, distributed of lands among landless women peasants, ensured fair representations of women in elected houses and government jobs besides several other initiatives for the empowerment of women.
In legislation also, the PPP carried of law-making for the protection and promotion of women to curb domestic violence and child marriages while a PPP Bill against Honor Killings was passed by the Senate and still waiting from the National Assembly, where PML-N has the majority.
Bilawal said that PPP was of the firm opinion that every girl in Pakistan has the potential to become Benazir Bhutto if she is provided an environment and adequate chances and facilities to grow and progress.
The PPP chairman reiterated the commitment of the Party towards the empowerment of women in Pakistan and all the efforts and steps will be taken by the Party to fulfill its commitment and accomplish the vision of its martyred leadership in this regard. NNI
