Barring women from education a crime against humanity: Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri

Addressing the Women Empowerment Conference in Al-Murad Hall in Birmingham, PAT Chairman Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri has said that there is no difference between the terrorists and those who oppose women’s education and progress. He said that barring women from education is crime against humanity, which is neither acceptable to Islam nor to any law or Constitution. He said that waging a struggle against orthodox and extremist anti-women thought has become inevitable. He said that the PAT will ensure the inclusion of women in the decision making through law after coming into power and confer their legitimate rights on them.

Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri said that women made their mark in every walk of life and they also demonstrated their wonderful administrative skills as heads of states. He congratulated the newly elected Prime Minister of the UK, Mrs. Theresa May, on this occasion. He said that Pakistan is a country that elected a woman as the Prime Minister twice.

Women Empowerment Conference was organized by PAT Women Wing UK. Dr Hassan Mohi-ud-Din Qadri, Chairman of MQI Supreme Council, was also present on the occasion.

Dr Qadri said that MQI is an international movement dedicated to promotion of peace and harmony in the world. He said that both men and women are playing their religious, moral and national duties within this organization, adding that the MQI struggle has left positive and constructive impact on the society. He said that women would not be empowered through statements and empty rhetoric, stating that the first step in this direction is to open the doors of education on them. He said that women have had representation in Parliament for last 14 years but they have not been allowed to play their constitutional and parliamentary role. He said that women legislators do not even enjoy the powers that their male counterparts do.

Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri said that had the Pakistani women been allowed to play their parliamentary and constitutional role actively and fully, the 60pc of women in Pakistan would not have been ignorant. They would not have had to experience such social evils as the custom of Wanni, marriage with Quran, torture, acid throwing, honor killing, and underage marriage. He said that women are not included in the process of consultation and release of development funds. He said that there is a need to change this mindset.

The PAT Chairman said that there would hardly be any example whereby the private member bill of any woman legislator might have been taken up on the floor of the house during last 14 years. He said that the problems of womenfolk will not go away by giving superficial representation to women in the assemblies. He said that special attention is paid to education of women in the educational institutions run by MQI. He said that it is a matter of immense pride that the parents consider the MQI educational institutions as safe and secure for education of their girls. He said that even our worst political enemies send their daughters to educational institutions of MQI with confidence. He congratulated the Women Wing on the successful conduct of the Conference.