Ghazala 9, being forced into childhood marriage, by father.

Ghazala 9, being forced into childhood marriage, by father.

Written by: Jawad Mazhar (ROD)

Sargodha, Pakistan, March 16^th (ROD): ‘Rays of Development Organization’ (ROD) had to step in to foil the malicious act of the marriage of 9 (Nine) years old girl child Ghazala with Abid 15, at Faazal Town, Sargodha. New Satellite Town (NST) police took immediate action against Ijaz alias Babu, the father of the naïve child Ghazala, responsible for this sinister act, at the report of ROD.

ROD has learnt that Ijaz alias Baabu was getting married to the daughter of Mansoor Ahmed and in exchange he promised to give the hand of her innocent little daughter Ghazala 8 to Abid 15, the son of Mansoor Ahmed.

This heinous practice is called ‘Watta Satta’ (exchange) in Pakistan. It is deeply rooted into the society. According to the ‘Watta Satta’ custom girls are exchanged and tied into the wedlock between two families. Often this evil custom is carried out in a bid to settle down enmities or other disputes.

New Satellite Town police station has taken Bridegroom Abid 15, Ghazala’s grandmother Banno Bibi and Ijaz alias Baabu into custody and stopped the marriage ceremony. Participants of the matrimonial ceremony and parents of the bridegroom Abid successfully escaped. The court has handed over the guardianship of Ghazala over to her close kin Gulzar.

Chairman ROD, Mr Ferhan Mazher has condemned this heinous episode saying that ROD is doing its best to ensure the provision and protection of equal rights of women in the Pakistani Society. He further expressed his outrage by adding that woe on those men who think that a woman is their property or asset. ROD protested against this atrocity in front of Press Club Sargodha.

Pakistan human rights body observes International Women Day

Pakistan human rights body observes International Women Day

Written by: Jawad Mazhar (ROD)

Sargodha, Pakistan March 8^th (ROD): A handsome number of minority women assembled at All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA) zonal secretariat to observe the International Women Day (IWD) on March 8^th, here at Sargodha, Pakistan under the aegis of Rays of Development Organization (ROD). Majority of the women were from the marginalized Christian minority of the predominantly Muslim state of Pakistan.

Spouse of the newly elected APMA’s member of the Punjab Assembly Mrs Tahir Naveed Chaudhary, Farukh Tanvir, Member of District Assembly of Sargodha Ms Rubina, Rosy Dewan (ROD), Sheraz Khurram Khan (Assist News Service, USA), Ms Mary and Chairman of ROD Mr Ferhan Mazher addressed the women, who had flocked to mark the IWD.

Mr Furrukh Tanvir of APMA asserted that women in Pakistan are living in pathetic condition. He added that they have to face discrimination even at their homes; they are being assaulted or harassed physically, mentally and sexually in their every day life in the conservative Pakistani society. Mr Furrukh vowed that the elected representatives of APMA would do every thing to raise the stifled voice of Pakistani women in the national and provincial assemblies. He also pledged to ensure the provision and protection of equal rights of women.

Mrs Tahir Naveed Chaudhary called for treatment of women on the basis of equality and ensured that APMA representatives will ensure necessary legislation in this regard.

Talking to ROD Fact Finding Team, she said that women hailing from the minorities should be given reserved seats and government should allocate 10% seats for the minority women from 33% quota of the women reserved seats.

Speaking on the occasion Sheraz Khurram Khan, the Special Correspondent for Assist News Service USA said that women are an integral part of our society and women belonging to the minorities’ communities suffer to a greater extent because of their faith.

He referred to some incidents in the past where the culprits had singled out minority women for rape. Condemning domestic violence he urged minority women to stand up for their rights.

Chairman of ‘Rays of Development Organization’ (ROD), Ferhan Mazher said that ROD is striving altruistically for the feminism, provision and protection of equal rights of women. He went on saying that ROD wishes to eradicate all sorts of gender based violence and envisions a society where women enjoy equal rights, freedom and justice.

The event culminated in a peaceful manner, all the participants stood up, joined their hands to show solidarity and prayed for the equal rights, freedom and prosperity of the women.