KARACHI, June 25 2006: The unpleasant incident of harassment of MPA Shazia Marri at the Sindh Assembly recently, was largely condemned by women activists and Advocate Zia Awan during a press conference called by the Working Women Support Centre, on June 24. Awan said that the harassment incident, which is not only shocking but also validates the existence of high quantum of public and workplace harassment cases against women in society.

He said that harassment of workingwomen has become a routine rather than exception in Pakistan and lack of rectifying measures stalemate the situation. He added that concrete steps should be taken to avoid discriminatory attitude towards women that obstruct actualisation of their potential at workplaces. He recommended that the government should take measures to implement the code of conduct for gender justice at workplaces that should be adopted by the parliament as well.

“The government’s attitude and reaction towards the issue is very discouraging and it is unfair to portray women like that,” said Humaira Alwani. She also condemned the chief minister’s recent statement on the issue which she said has disappointed Shazia Marri. Awan added that Shazia could not make it to the press conference, as promised earlier, because she is under depression due to the statements made against her in the media. Awan added that failure of the government programmes has provided room to the non-governmental organisations to initiate steps for the empowerment of women in the country.
Source: Dawn
Date:6/25/2006