LAKKI MARWAT: Speakers at a seminar have called upon the government to ensure implementation on Prevention of Anti-Women Practices Act so as to protect the rights of women and eradicate anti women practices in the country.

The seminar was arranged by foundation for integrated development action (FIDA), a non governmental organisation with the assistance of USAID and Aurat Foundation here on Tuesday.

Though the main objective of the seminar was to create awareness among the civil society and people from different walks of life about the women rights and prevention of antiwomen practices act, but interestingly no woman participant attended the event.

`It is astonishing to note that no woman is here to know about her rights and laws relevant to protect her rights,` a speaker pointed out.

He stressed the need for en suring women participation in such seminars as it would prove helpful to educate them on how to protect their rights.

Speakers appreciated the present government for promulgating the law and said that mass awareness campaigns and strict implementation on the law could help eradicate practices and customs like forced marriages, depriving woman from her inheritance and forcing a woman into marriage with Quran or for settling a dispute. Shedding light on women`s rights in the pretext of teachings of Islam, they told said that Islam secured the rights of women and also gave them sanctity in the society.

Being Muslims it is our prime responsibility to eradicate all those customs, traditions and practices in vogue in the country which are against the dignity of women and in violation of their rights, they said.