Islam has exalted woman to a high rank as mother:Justice(r) Nasira Javaid Iqbal

Lahore: Islam has exalted woman to a high rank as mother, wife, daughter and sister. She must never ever try to imitate the man, as being a woman has its own beauty. During the Pakistan Movement women contributed a lot toward its success. Now-a-days some elements want to confine woman to the four walls of her home, which is tantamount to oppression and suppression. We need mothers that give birth to children like the Quaid-i-Azam and Allama Muhammad Iqbal. Unfortunately, women are being sacrified on the altar of evil rituals of the past. These were the thoughts expressed by the speakers on the “International Women’s Day” celebrated at the Aiwan-i-Karkunaan-i-Tehreek-i-Pakistan jointly organized by the Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust and Pakistan Movement Workers Trust.

The event was presided over by Justice(r) Nasira Javaid Iqbal. Those present on the occasion included Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust Chairman, Vice Chairman Professor Dr. Rafique Ahmad, Begum Bushra Rehman, Prof. Haleema Sa’adia, Arifa Subha Khan, Dr. Salman Abid, Dr. Samar Fatima, Yasmeen Zafar, Saima Mir, Fouzia Naseer, Tahira Anjum, Zarqa Jawaid, Yasmeen Khan, Nasira Anwar Rizvi, Naila Farooqi, Asma Iqbal, Sajal Zahra, Madeeha Arshad, Seemul Shehzad and a large number of women belonging to different walks of life. Professor Dr. Parveen Khan conducted the proceedings of the events.

Justice(r) Nasira Javaid Iqbal remarked that women played a glorious role during the Pakistan Movement. The Quaid-i-Azam encouraged his own sister Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah to act as an inspiration to the women of the sub-continent. The referendum held in the NWFP yielded a positive result by dint of our woman’s struggle. We must keep the plight of the women of our tribal areas in view and do our best to ameliorate it. Those against the women’s interests must be presented a united front. They must be encouraged to take part in the local bodies elections and given 33% representation in every institution.

Professor Dr. Rafique Ahmad observed that it was our women who made the Pakistan Movement a success. The Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust has always encouraged women to take part in all its activities. It accords Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah a high status alongside the Quaid-i-Azam and Allama Mohammad Iqbal.

Begum Bushra Rehman observed that Islam has given a high status to woman as mother, wife, sister and daughter. The majority of the elected representatives seem to shirk their responsibility to grant women their legitimate rights. A woman must learn to take  pride in her femininity.

Professor Dr. Parveen Khan remarked that women workers in a garments factory in New York were subjected to torture when they demanded a pray-rise and reduction in their duty hours on 8 March, 1908. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) accorded an exalted rank to women. What a pity that even in this era of enlightenment, our women are being made to suffer due to the brutal rituals of dark part.

Salman Abid observed that the Constitution of Pakistan makes it incumbent on the state to provide women with education., but 53%  of them are still illiterate. He remarked that our 2.4% of our GDP was being spent on education and 0.6% of it on health, which necessitates an emergency to be imposed on both the departments, i.e. education and health.

Arifa Subhan Khan emphasized the need for making the “International Women’s Day” with full fervour and zeal, as it helps highlight the problems confronting women.

Dr. Samar Fatima observed that the very first human being embracing the very first revelation was a woman. Hazrat Khadeeja (R.A). Recognizing their potentialities, our women should organize themselves and assume their due authority.

Professor Haleema Sa’adiia termed woman a symbol of courage and bravery. It is she who pulls her offspring out of the darkness of disappointment and despair. The need of the hour is to equip her with the best possible education, so that she may provide the country with ideal citizens capable of raising it to the status of developed countries.