RESIGNATION OF PAKISTANI MINISTER FOR TOURISM NILOFAR BAKHTIAR

That this House recognises the importance of women playing a full role in politics and the important qualities women bring to political life; congratulates the government of Pakistan for making significant moves towards ensuring that women are better represented in democracy and politics; notes that over 21 per cent. of the members of the National Assembly are women and over 17 per cent. of the members of the Senate are women; applauds the work of Senator Nilofar Bakhtiar as Pakistan Tourism Minister to promote the culture, heritage and beauty of her country to the rest of the world; expresses profound regret that Senator Bakhtiar felt forced to offer her resignation as a Minister by men who used intimidatory methods to frighten and undermine her, whose only action to cause this outrageous behaviour was to hug an instructor following a charity parachute jump in which she participated to raise money for child victims of the 2005 earthquake; and strongly condemns the fact that Islamabad clerics have subsequently issued a fatwa against her, effectively placing her life under threat.