(که سپوره وي که پوره وي نو په شریکه به وي (باچاخان)

No compromise on female literacy

Senator-elect Afrasiab Khan Khattak Sunday resolved that the Awami National Party led coalition government would never compromise on women´s right to education and said the government had started serious endeavours to establish a lasting peace in Swat. ´´We will fight the forces of retrogression and darkness. The forces of evil will certainly be defeated and justice will prevail. Those who destroyed Rahman Baba´s shrine will never succeed in their nefarious missions,´´ he said while addressing a Women Peace Jirga at the famous Nishtar Hall Peshawar.
The Jirga was convened in connection with the International Women´s Day, arranged by Women associated to the party. Afrasiab said peace meant equality and equality ensures equal rights to all human being, adding that the ANP believed that all human being are equal irrespective of their religion, caste, colour and creed. He said that those who believed that the fire that was burning in Pakhtun land would remain limited to the province were seriously mistaken. He appealed to all the political parties and civil society organizations to support peace process in the province as the whole country´s future is at stake. Talking about the declaration that was presented in the jirga, the provincial President of ANP said that declaration was the will of Pakhtun women to restore peace and also their explicitly mentioned right to education, health and progress. He also clarified they will never allow any law that denies women their basic right and dignity. The speakers were of the opinion that insurgency and counter-insurgency strategies were threatening women´s equal rights and participation, mobility and access to socio-economic and political development. The jirga also announced a declaration that expressed concern about the civilian population, particularly women affected by the increasing militancy, extremism and extended military operations in the province and Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (FATA) that resulted in mass migration.
The declaration also stated that women of the Pakhtunkhwa Province believed that human rights and humanitarian standards that guarantee their protection were being violated with impunity resulting in serious humanitarian crises on the ground, negatively impacting a durable peace and reconciliation. The announcement also underlined the need for reaffirming the important role of women in the prevention of violence and in peace building, stressing the importance of their equal participation and full involvement in all efforts for maintenance and promotion of peace and security. Besides, they said the need to increase women´s role in decision making with regard to peace and reconciliation was also essential. The declaration stated that the womenfolk decided to continue with the peace jirga process to jointly assess the effects of conflict on women and children; recommend resolution; and effectively participate in peace-building process at all levels. It also called upon the political parties, government and international community that while negotiating and implementing peace agreements, they should facilitate women´s participation in all levels of decision-making. The women peace jirga also called for facilitating women´s peace, reconciliation and reconstruction initiatives and ensure protection and respect for the human rights of women and girls. The jirga wanted an end to impunity and prosecution of those responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity, including those relating to sexual violence against women and girls. The jirga sought an independent humanitarian commission to analyse the extent of devastation as a result of insurgency and military operations and recommend adequate compensation. ´´Ensure that girls are able to attend schools in their local areas and have access to quality education without fear. Arrange for temporary education facilities, especially for girls where schools have been destroyed and commit to reconstruction of education and health facilities at the earliest,´´ the jirga said. Later, the participants staged a rally. Holding white flags, a symbol of peace, they were chanting slogans for restoration of peace in the region. The rally marched up to the Rahman Baba Chowk, wherefrom they dispersed peacefully. Tausef-ur-Rehman - بېرته شاته