MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): President Azad Jammu and Kashmir Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry and prime minister Chaudhry Anwar ul Haq have said that “Women are the backbone of our society”.
They also acknowledged the women’s strength and their significant contribution in different sectors of life.
In their separate messages issued on the occasion of World Women’s Day, both leaders said that women play a key role in the economic development of a country.
Islam, they said, is the only religion which does not discriminate between men and women. “Islam has guaranteed the rights of women in every sphere of life like men”, they added.
In his message, the President said, “Our religion, Islam, places great emphasis on the dignity and rights of women”. Empowering women, he said, was indispensable for the development and prosperity of any society.
Barrister Chaudhry further said that the development of society was not possible without equal rights for women. “We as a nation have to work together to create a safe working environment for women so that they can equally contribute to social and national development”, the President remarked.
Prime Minister Haq said that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) explained the rights of women and gave them representation in every sphere of life, including their right to inheritance.
He said that women in Azad Kashmir have proved their mettle in every sphere of life while working shoulder to shoulder with men.
He also praised Kashmiri women’s role in the freedom movement. “Our government emphasized on the women empowerment, development and welfare of women.”
“Women in the liberated territory enjoy complete freedom,” the PM said, adding that there was a zero-tolerance policy against harassment of women, especially at work place.
Resilience of Kashmiri women
Paying rich tribute to the resilience of Kashmiri women who sacrificed their young sons, brothers and husbands in the Kashmir freedom movement, he said that besides going through trials and tribulations, the Kashmiri women have also endured illegal imprisonments, torture and various other forms of abuse.
