ISLAMABAD: Federal Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari today (Thursday) has asserted that the government should not consider any alleged harassers for national awards.
She expressed her views during a press talk held at the President’s house. The Human Rights Minister also lauded President Arif Alvi for taking several important initiatives during his ongoing tenure.
“Men who are part of the showbiz, are quite powerful, some of them are even married into the families of very influential lawyers. So we, as a government, should discourage and disown any man who has been suspected of harassment,” she added. Realm
Mazari went on to shed the light on how the current government has worked relentlessly to tackle sensitive issues such as child abuse, a program for awareness of women’s inheritance, a law that has been proposed for the welfare of transgenders.
“One thing we do need to have a conversation about is violence, harassment, and cyberstalking,” she pointed out. “While women are definitely empowered by economic structure, protection against women abuse, and laws for female inheritance, the real issues women face is in the court of law,” she added.
She further said, “There are laws for khula, but the agony a woman faces when she has to deal with legal battles is painful. How will we work on such issues?”
She went on to address workplace harassment as well. “If she complaints about harassment and is someone who is in the showbiz industry, then she isn’t credible or is lying,” Mazari added.
The politician added on how the cases are still pending and not heard at the Supreme Court due to the influence of the accused. “These people are powerful,” she said, adding, “The cases are still not being heard at the courts on merit..”
Mazari added the stance shouldn’t just be limited to physical harassment but to gender-based violence as well. “We have a helpline; an application has been introduced for the same.”
