Bilawal Bhutto concerned over growing crime incidents against women

Islamabad: Chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has expressed concern over the growing and unabated incidents of violence against women in Pakistan, with conviction rate of cases of crimes against women being recorded at 2.5 per cent as the country continues to be the 6th most dangerous place in the world for women.

In his message on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women being observed worldwide under the aegis of the United Nations tomorrow, the PPP Chairman said that it pains him deeply that the nation, which produced Benazir Bhutto as the first-ever elected woman Prime Minister in the Muslim world has been declared as 6th insecure country for women.

He said that Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and her party’s later governments carried out legislations to protect and promote equal rights for women and their empowerment, and their equal standing in the society. But a lot has still to be done to achieve this goal.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that crimes against women in Pakistan are a source of shame for the entire nation and gory crimes like the Motorway rape case and so many others against the women are a litmus test for the prosecution, as well as the judiciary to prove their mettle instead of trading allegations of loopholes on each other’s part.

PPP Chairman pointed out that Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and her Party’s governments established separate women police stations, First Women Bank, induction of women into judiciary, distribution of land among landless women and Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) for economic empowerment of women in Pakistan.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that women were the backbone of any civilised society and their contribution to its betterment could not be ignored. He pledged that PPP, being the architect of the women empowerment in the country, would continue its struggle to protect women against crimes and provide equal opportunities to them in the society.