Asma criticises ban on women in festival

LAHORE: Former Supreme Court Bar Association president Asma Jahangir has taken exception to a ban on women from attending traditional “Qaqlasht Festival”.

In a statement issued on Thursday, she says this is discrimination and would send a negative message to tourists as well.

She states such a violation of women’s rights is against the laws of the country and the women of Gilgit-Baltistan should not be treated any different to the women living in Pakistan.

Ms Jahangir says the people of Gilgit-Baltistan desire to gain freedom for themselves but without extending these freedoms to their women in letter and spirit, their society would not progress. The germs of intolerance were unknown to GB in the past, she adds.

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2017