Punjab Study

LAHORE:September 06: Women should be given equal rights in all matters, including inherited property, said speakers at a dialogue, titled ‘Condition and Status of Single Women in Society’, on Wednesday.

Speaking on the occasion, the Women Workers Helpline general secretary said that the Muslim Family Laws Ordinance 1961 was neither secular nor progressive.

“Daughters should get equal rights as of sons. We should take example of law in Somalia for rights of property for daughters, as both [sons and daughters] get equal share from their parental property.” She called honour killings a big problem for women of Pakistani society. A play on the issue of single women’s struggle for their right to inherited property, ‘Nahin Mein Darna’, was also presented along with the dialogue, which was arranged by SIMORGH Women’s Resource and Publication Centre.

Supreme Court Advocate Huma Shah, speaking on the issue of inherited property, said that almost 80 percent of Pakistani women do not know how to get their rights from parental property and lack of education is the biggest reason for this.

She said mostly daughters or wives do not get their property rights as “it is believed in our society why or for what does a single woman needs money”.

“Most women forcibly give their property shares to their brothers,” Huma said.

She said unless and until a woman is educated and is well-aware of her rights, she cannot fight for her rights. Dr Rubina Saigol said, “Woman who breeds is considered a good citizen in our society.”

She said that a single woman is expected to stay home and serve her family or in- laws, adding that not only the family or relatives pressurise a single woman but society does too.

“If a single woman asks for her property rights, it is believed that why does she needs money or to whom she has to give this money. It is believed that to breed is a religious responsibility,” Rubina said.

TV artist Samina Ahmad said that even in the media, “classes have been made as A-class and B-class… according to which a female artist is treated”. She said, “A-class consists of ones who do leading roles and they do not face any harassment as they get popular. The B-class usually consists of ones who do not come from a well-off background.”

Samina said that female artists face more harassment in Lahore. “Female artists are forced to do illegal activities as it the demand of their producers or directors.”

A member from the transgender community, Neeli Rana, said transgenders face problems from the day they are born.

Neeli said transgender children, who run away from their homes and are forced to sleep on streets, are raped occasionally but no one takes action or raises voice against this.“Transgenders are forced to get involved in sexual activities. No one gives us home on rent as they feel ashamed in doing so.”Daily Times.