PESHAWAR: Speakers at a conference on `women`s right to inheritance` have urged the civil society to focus on efficacy of the relevant laws and ensuring expeditious response of all concerned, particularly judges, to the issues concerning women`s financial rights.

According to a statement issued here on Sunday, the two-day conference was arranged by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Judicial Academy (KPJA), Peshawar. It was supported by the Strengthening Rule of Law Project (SRLP), UNDP, and held with the financial assistance of Swiss Agency of Development and Cooperation.

Female judicial officers, presidents of bar associations of Pata and Peshawar district, academia, senior of ficers of the provincial government, representatives of the local government and organisations working for women rights, revenue officers and SRLP officials attended the event.

The conference was aimed at creating awareness of the women`s rights, privileges and immunities with particular reference to their right to inheritance, and to sensitise the civil society to the need and significance of the subject, and to enhance the capacity of judges so as to ensure prompt actions and proper implementation of the relevant laws and discover flaws of the laws on the subject.

KPJA director general Ziauddin Khattak said that Shariah had placed great emphasis on financial rights of women, particularly their entitlement to inheritance.

He said that under the Islamic law and jurisprudence, a female inherited almost in all categories and degrees of relationship; as a mother, daughter, sister, wife, niece and others, as per rules of the law of inheritance.

He called for making efforts to ensure smooth implementation of the existing law by identifying gaps and creating awareness.

Prof Dost Mohammad briefed the participants about the women rights under the Islamic law. He deliberated upon the legal provisions of the holy Quran and Sunnah, pertaining to various social and financial rights of women in the Muslim society.

Prof Anees Ahmad made a comparative presentation on the women`s right to inheritance in Shariah and other religions and systems of the world.