ISLAMABAD: Veiled in a black abaya, 22-year-old Iqra Saleem was paying close attention to speakers at the rural women conference, hoping she might find solutions to the perspectives of her father and brothers, who refuse to let her pursue a regular masters degree from any university.

Iqra travelled from Bhera, Sargodha, with many other women to attend the two day Annual Conference on Rural Women Day in Pakistan, which was organised by the Potohar Organisation for Development Advocacy (PODA) at Lok Virsa on Thursday.

Iqra is currently pursuing a private masters degree in English Literature from Sargodha University. She told Dawn her brothers did not allow her to join any university, because `the locals did not consider it good` She said she is still fighting her case with her family, adding that her own grandmother was the greatest hurdle in changing her father`s and brothers` minds.

`Why would a woman create problems for another woman? If my grandmother wanted, she could persuade my father to allow me.

But I`m fighting because I want my rights not just for me but for my younger sister, who is doing her matriculation, so she does not face the same challenges to completingher education,` she said.

Iqra said the conference was a good platform for women who know their rights to get together, but the problem is how to fight to get these rights from men in their families.

However, Yasmeen Gul from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was very enthusiastic about the conference, calling it a game changer for many women in the province.

`Our one member who attended last year`s conference took a stand against her husband, who was trying to take money for marrying off her daughter at a very young age.

The woman and her mother in law finally saved her daughter from a child marriage,` she said.

Bushra Tabassum from AzadKashmir added: `We come here to gaincourage tonghtforjustice and get out rights.

Outside the conference hall, an exhibition of crafts by women depicted Pakistan`s rich culture.

Stalls featuring hand embroidered apparel, fashion and home accessories, natural dye block prints, traditional silver jewellery, wall hangings, mobile phone cases, shawls, decorative pieces and greeting cards.

A theatrical performance by the Lok Natak Group on the local government system emphasised systemic discrimination against women by portraying women councillors who do not get to have their say.

Balochistan Assembly SpeakerRaheela Durrani also spoke at the conference. She emphasised the importance of education, recalling her parent`s support for her education, and said women should focus on education and send their daughters to school. She said she had high hopes for Pakistani women, and said they should dedicate themselves to Pakistan`s development.

During the conference, rural women demanded the government end all forms of violence against women, including social, economic and societal violence.

Women`s rights activists urged the government to train the police and court officials so new laws may be implemented. They highlighted that many women face violence and the threat of homelessness, and called on the government to make housing schemes and introduce subsidies for women-headed houses to promote women`s empowerment.

PODA Executive Director Sameena Nazir said: The most appropriate and effective way to end violence against women is to prevent it from happening in the first place by addressing its root and structural causes and for it, [everyone needs] to change their mindset both men and women.

However, the fundamental duty of the government is to enhance implementation of laws which protect women and ensure efficient regulatory mechanisms to respond to the needs.