ISLAMABAD: On the occasion of the International Women’s Day 2012, President Asif Ali Zardari signed the National Commission on the Status of Women Bill 2012 into a law at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, expressing hope that the Commission would play a significant role as a watchdog of women’s rights and help bring a positive change in women-related policies and legislation.
The president reiterated the PPP’s commitment to working for the rights of women, saying the promotion of women’s rights was part of the history of the struggle of the Pakistan People’s Party. “Our leader Shaheed Benazir Bhutto was the first woman ever elected prime minister to head an Islamic nation and as a woman leader she felt a special responsibility to address issues relating to women,” he added.
Zardari said it was sad how many Shaheed Benazir’s were lost to the world because of hurdles in the way of women’s development. He said it was also a source of great satisfaction that women were today fighting for their rights. “The journey may be long and tedious but they are destined to succeed,” he said.
The president said the National Commission on the Status of Women had been made independent and autonomous and was empowered to protect the social and legal rights of women.
