Firdous says no confrontation exists between men and women.

Byline: Kalbe Ali

ISLAMABAD -- There was no confrontation between men and women in the country, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said on Monday. 'The government did not take sides over the Aurat March,' she said in reply to queries by lawmakers at an emergency meeting of the National Assembly's Standing Committee on information and broadcasting.

Some of the legislators drew Dr Awan's attention to slogans that they found 'unethical and contrary to our family values'.

The committee had met to focus exclusively on the reasons for, and impact of, slogans like 'Mera Jism Meri Marzi' adopted by organisers of the Aurat March.

The Special Assistant on information and broadcasting said it was a fact that society 'discriminates against women and so they have to struggle for their rights'.

She alleged that workers of the JUI-F, the outlawed Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat and students, as well as teachers, of Jamia Hafsa had attacked participants of the Aurat March in Islamabad on Sunday.

'We neither support slogans like `Mera Jism Meri Marzi' nor do we side with baton-wielding marchers,' Dr Awan emphasised.

The government did not take sides over the Aurat March, PM's special assistant tells NA body

She praised television channels for adhering to directives given by Pemra regarding the Women's Day coverage. 'But the challenge we faced was related to social media since it is a common practice there to ridicule people and hurl insults at them,' Dr Awan added.

She stressed the need for regulating social media and requested the committee to invite the Pakistan TelecomAmunication AuthoArity (PTA) chairman for consultations during the next meeting.

Mian Javed Latif, who belongs to the PML-N and heads the committee, called upon the information ministry to launch an awareness campaign about laws regarding protection of women.

Members of the committee noted that it was citizens' right to highlight their grievances, but any such activity 'should not cross the boundaries set by Islam and the...