President Asif Ali Zardari’s Message on International Women Day

 :PPP Greater London :Co-Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party and President Asif Ali Zardari has issued the following message on the International Women Day falling on Sunday March 8, 2009:

“On the occasion of the International Women Day being observed today I wish to congratulate the women of the world in general and of Pakistan in particular and salute them for their heroic struggle for emancipation and an end to discrimination.

“The celebrations today under the auspices of the United Nations demonstrate that women everywhere are waking up.

“Pakistan has the distinction of having Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto the first woman ever elected as Prime Minister of an Islamic nation. For the first time too we have a woman as the Speaker of the National Assembly. These are distinctions of which the women of Pakistan, indeed all of us, can genuinely feel proud.

“During the two tenures of Shaheed Mohtarma Bhutto government a trend was set in gender equality and protection of women from violence. Let us resolve today to make that trend now irreversible.

“Given its historical background the present government feels a special responsibility towards issues relating to women. It considers promotion of women’s rights as a religious, moral and political obligation. The introduction of Benazir Income Support Program with focus on women is a step in the direction of empowering women of the country. The journey may be long but the bearings are correct.

“Women the world over, more so in Pakistan, have been subjected to varying degrees of discrimination, exploitation and violence. The discrimination against them, in some cases embedded in the law, and their backwardness has nothing to do either with the religion or cultural values. It is simply the result of prejudice. This situation must change; it will.

“On this occasion let us resolve to protect women from discrimination and violence.

“I urge the Members of Parliament to revisit the laws discriminatory to women adopted by male prejudice and begin to review them. A thought should also be given to expand the Benazir Income Support Program into a comprehensive social action programme largely for the benefit of women in the rural areas.

“On this day also I appeal to all the political parties to join hands beyond partisan politics to extricate women from the agony and embarrassment of discriminatory laws. Let us on this day send a powerful message that crimes against women would not be tolerated.

“I also appeal for the mobilisation of the collective power of women to help make our country, the region and the world more tolerant, harmonious and secure.

“I am confident that together we will win the fight”.