Legislation to ban honour killing in next provincial assembly session: NWFP chief minister

NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani has said that the provincial government is bringing legislation in the provincial assembly in its next session starting from 8th April to ban honour killing.
"Swara", divorce thrice in one go and provision of right of inheritance to women and removal of other such discriminatory laws against women. The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) government would give un-parallel rights to the women as enjoined by the divine religion Islam.
He was talking to women legislators led by Nilofur Bakhtiar, Advisor to Prime Minister which called on him at the Frontier's House, Peshawar on Saturday. Provincial Minister for Zakat Hafiz Hashmat, MPAs Nighat Orakzai, Seemi Mehmood Jan, Zubaida Iqbal, Rehana Ismail, Naeema Kishwar, Director Social Welfare and IG Prison were also present on the occasion.
Advisor to Prime Minister Nilofur Bakhtiar appreciated MMA's policies for the welfare and empowerment of women folk. She pledged to provide Rs 2 crore grant for Women Medical College and Rs 1 crore for Women University.
She would meet the President and recommend the provision of grant as expeditiously as possible.
Durrani said that his government has been endeavouring to secure the rights of the women folk and open up all avenues to them for forward moving.
This is unparallel in the history of the country. He said that in the provincial assembly, there were 23 women legislators of which 13 belonged to MMA but his government provided equal uplift funds to all members of provincial assembly without any discrimination.
Certain quarters objected to this decision but our plea was that they are also elected representatives and should be given equal share. This approach was missing in the past.
He said that our religion advocates empowerment and provision of rights to the women folk in all their capacities. He said that because of the peculiar tradition, certain people shy to send their female to co-education.
In view of this scenario, the MMA's government decided to set up a female medical college and women university besides establishment of women sports directorate so that they could enjoy what they were not enjoying in the past.
He said that the MMA's government was for the emancipation of women from social injustices including banning honour killing, divorce thrice in one go, "Swara", giving hands of female in family feuds. The government would make legislations and these would be brought at the floor of provincial assembly in its next session.
The chief minister also referred to the government decisions for the establishment of a centre for those who are begging. Such centers would be reforms centre where the beggars would be given food, shelter and training so that they could become useful citizen of the society and might not be a burden on the society. A Darul Kafala was being established in Peshawar for which the provincial government has given land and Rs 30 million has been donated by a Chinese firm. In the center female would be imparted training while food and clothing etc would be provided to them free of cost. They would be also provided job opportunities. These are the ground realities today against the past vociferous claims that stayed only claims.
Durrani said that his government has also established a separate account to facilitate the release of poor jail inmates languishing in Jails because of non-payment of "Diayat".
He has managed the release of some of the prisoners. Their Diayat money has been cleared and he had requested the well-to-do people to co-operate in this regard.
Referring to the barring of women from submitting nomination papers for local bodies polls, the chief minister said that provincial government has nothing to do with it, if it was so then in other districts of the province women would have been barred from LB polls. It was the collective decision of political parties in that area.
He said if women can take part in general elections then there is no reason of barring them from LB polls.
He said, the political parties should play an active role in this regard. He assured that he will discuss the issue with senior minister Siraj ul Haq to persuade other political parties.
Durrani said that the MMA government believed in democracy. In democratic countries different political parties run the governments amicably. He in this connection referred to the political set up of India where different political parties run governments in center and provinces.
He said that we should also encourage this trend as it will help strengthen democracy in our country.
He said, the MMA showed flexibility in its stance on Legal Framework Order (LFO) and signed an agreement with federal government which steered the country out of financial and political crises.
The chief minister said that the MMA policies has increased pace of development in the province, adding that the confidence of investors has been restored and investment flow has started.
The chief minister briefed the Prime Minister's Advisor on the MMA's government step taken for poverty alleviation, overall development of the province and welfare activities.
Nilofur Bakhtiar appreciated the MMA's government performance and assured that she will approach the President to announce a package for the welfare of women folk in the NWFP.