Poverty and injustice hindrance to nation building: SCBA Chief

The main hindrances in nation building are poverty, injustice, and lack of education, said Asma Jahangir, President, Supreme Court Bar Association in her key-note address at a seminar on "Muslim Women: Through the lens of history, religion, law and society." The four-day moot has been organised by the Centre of Biomedical Ethics and Culture of Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT).
In her presentation, "The role of Pakistani women in nation building," she said "in Pakistan women have not been given equal credit and rights since the creation of the country. Women are exploited, treated as second class citizens, but have continued to struggle and work for their rights," said the human rights activist.
She gave the example of Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah who stood against dictator Ayub Khan, and noted that Pakistan had the first woman Prime Minister in the Muslim world. "Nation building however is only possible when there is a change in the mindset and women are seen as equal citizens. Peace and tolerance are also pre-requisite for nation building as absence of peace and rampant intolerance severely hamper development of any society," she said.
The activist wished the country could spend its resources in alleviating poverty and improving education that could ultimately pave the way for Pakistan to prosper.
Professor Adibul Hasan Rizvi, Director of SIUT, in his speech said that in the perception of many the woman is thought of only as a housewife.
This seminar will help to highlight the ethical, social, and economic aspects that impact the lives of women, he said. The senior surgeon said, "it is now time for us to work together in Pakistan for equal rights of woman". Professor Farhat Moazam Chairperson of CBEC said that since 2006 this center has produced forty-one post graduates in biomedical ethics who are now teaching ethics in different institutions of the country.
She explained that the aim of the CBEC seminar is to begin a public dialogue on the status of women in Pakistan and discuss the ways in which laws and social norms affect their position in society. The seminar to continue till Thursday will be addressed by national and international scholars.