Pakistan Women Foundation for Peace (PWFFP) on Tuesday called for pro-women legislation in line with the Islamic and Constitutional perspectives to elevate the social, economic and political status of the vulnerable section of the society. "We want social support for women's Islamic and constitutional rights," said Chairperson PWFFP, Nargis Rahman, at a news conference held at Karachi Press Club. She said that women continue to face denial of their Islamic and Constitutional rights.
A group of female activists and scholars along with economist A.B. Shahid expressed their views regarding the recent Islamic Ideology Council's ruling that underage marriages are religiously legitimate. A renowned writer - Fatima Suraya Bajiya, urged the patriarchal society to follow Islamic teachings on women status. "Islam elevates the status of women in the society," she said.
The society should recognise the women status with dignified and respectful way, she said and cited a number of examples from Holy Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) Sunnah and Islamic history. Begum Zenat Haroon said the founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had always supported the women during the independence movement.
"Quaid-e-Azam wanted to give equal political, social and economic presentation to women in the affairs of state," she said, adding that founder of Pakistan was willing to see a bright future for the female of the nation. A leadership change is needed to ensure the implementation of Holy Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) teachings and Quaid-e-Azam's views to improve the women status in the society.
A religious scholar - Professor Shaista Zaidi, who is also President of Bazme Aamna, criticised the ruling elite for their luxurious lifestyle and a complete indifference to poor nation. She termed the women marriages without their consent as invalid. "Ulema should play their role in making the underage marriage and those being held without the consent of women null and void and take away the right from her father of being guardian of the girl," she urged.
She slammed the Sindh government for holding an expensive and anti-social 'Sindh Festival' saying that people are dying out of famine while the rulers are more interest in festivals which never represent the Sindh culture. Professor Shaista Zaidi said the country's affairs were not as per Islamic guidelines, saying that religion protects the vulnerable section of society.
A scholar - Aliya Imam, said Islamic has brightened the status of women to glory. She blamed the hidden forces for creating chaos in the society through sectarian and ethnic rifts. An eminent journalist - Zubaida Mustafa, said that a group through violence wants to impose their views and their approved system on the country. She blamed the external forces behind the group's movement to stoke insurgency. An economist - A. B. Shahid, said the society has to realise the importance of strong family through empowerment of women to develop the national economy. He feared the continuing denial of rights to women will lead the society to collapse.