Address to a seminar organized in the Karachi University on the occasion of International Women’s Day
Deputy Convener of the Co-ordination Committee of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) Dr Farooq Sattar has said that the age-old oppressive system in Pakistan was the biggest hurdle in the path of freedom and development of women. He was addressing a seminar organized by the Centre of Excellence for Women’s Studies in the Karachi University.
Deputy Convener of the Co-ordination Committee Senator Nasrin Jalil, vice-chancellor of the Karachi University Dr Muhammad Qaiser, teachers and students attended the seminar organized on the occasion of International Women’s Day.
Addressing the audience Dr Sattar said that feudal lords, capitalists, and bureaucracy usurped power soon after the independence of the country and over the years, this privileged ruling class pushed the country in the abyss of corruption, lawlessness and terrorism. He said that the vested interests affiliated with this system holding sway in the country were the biggest hurdle in the freedom and development of women.
Dr Sattar said that Pakistan ranked among those countries where there was gross discrimination against women, and they could not even think of rights that were available to women in developed countries. It was necessary that the entire nation worked together for giving equal rights to women, and it would be possible only if the archaic feudal system was dismantled.
He said that the MQM was making practical efforts for eliminating the feudal system and the culture of dynastic politics. It was also working strenuously for the rights of the women.
Dr Sattar told the participants of the seminar that Mr Altaf Hussain, the founder and leader of the MQM, had always raised a forceful voice against the barbaric customs of karo-kari, vani, and marriage of women with the Holy Quran. It was because of the efforts of the MQM that the Women’s Rights Bill was passed by the National Assembly.
Dr Sattar later on visited the camps and stalls set up by students.