ANP female MPs to visit Swat

[LahoreEstate]

ANP female MPs to visit Swat

* To form ‘women peace jirga’ and two committees to monitor deteriorating law and order

By Zakir Hassnain

PESHAWAR: A delegation of female parliamentarians from the Awami National Party (ANP) will soon visit Swat to assess the damage caused to girls’ schools there and to express solidarity with women who suffer the most in the current law and order situation in the restive valley.

The parliamentarians on Friday announced formation of a ‘women peace jirga’ and two committees to monitor the deteriorating law and order in Swat, assess damage to girls’ schools and suffering of women and children and raise funds.

“Militants are targeting girls’ schools and destroying them and women are suffering. We condemn destruction of schools,” MPA Shagufta Malik said at a press conference at the Peshawar Press Club.

Shagufta said ANP leader Zahra Khattak was the convener of the organising committee while ANP MPA Zubaida Ehsan and former MPA Farah Aqil Shah were the committee members. She said the organising committee would contact other democratic parties and civil society organisations to cooperate with the ANP MPs and help them find a solution to the problems of women in Swat.

Shagufta said National Assembly Member Jamila Gilani was the convener of the fund-raising committee while ANP Peshawar District President Nasreen Bukhari and MPA Musarrat Shafi were its members. “To start with, ANP female MPs would donate their one-month salary and appeal to party workers to provide financial assistance for the women and displaced people of Swat,” she said.

Shagufta said the delegation would consist of the organising committee and ANP female MNAs and MPAs. “The delegation will shortly go to Swat to assess the damage caused to girls schools, express solidarity with women and collect details of the internally displaced persons,” said MNA Bushra Gohar.

Bushra denied that ANP parliamentarians did not visit the troubled areas themselves and said, “We go to Swat. We have got votes from Swat,” she said. However, Bushra added, it was not ANP’s responsibility alone. “It’s everyone’s responsibility to restore peace in Swat,” said the ANP MNA.

She said schools would open in March and the government would make alternative arrangements for schools, which were completely destroyed.

Jamila said the ANP ‘women peace jirga’ would contact other political parties and civil society activists within a month and provide them one platform to find a solution to the conflict in Swat.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...009_pg7_14