Women's Participation in Marathons
07 April, 2005
Dismissing MMA's protest over mix marathons, the government has directed the cabinet members and its legislators to organize women marathons in every district. While, the religious alliance terming the mix marathons unislamic, has vowed to stop them by force. The MMA says it is not against women sports, or any other healthy activity, but that must be in accordance with Islamic values and local culture. The government says that women's participation in marathons will promote the country's soft image in the world.
The Punjab Assembly adopted a resolution with majority on April 5 condemning the alleged attack on the participants of mix marathon in Gujranwala and recommended that anti terrorists act should be imposed against the people involved in the incident and dubbing it as a conspiracy to tarnish the country's image, while the opposition said the government should first bring its own families into such events before indulging the general public into it.
Following the strong reaction of MMA in Gujranwala, the district governments of Multan, Sargodha and Bahawalpur dropped the idea of mix marathons in respective districts, but the Punjab government has ordered the district officials to organize mix marathons as per schedule.
Q-1 Can mix marathons promote Pakistan's soft image?
Q-2 Was MMA's protest over women marathon in Gujranwala a right step?
Q-3 what other steps, besides women marathons, should be taken to promote Pakistan's soft image?
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