The Embassy hosted a reception for renowned human rights activist Mukhtaran Mai

The Embassy hosted a reception for renowned human rights activist Mukhtaran Mai on April 24. The reception was attended by a large number of senior officials from the State Department including U.S. Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Karen Hughes, Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Richard Boucher and Senior Advisor to the Secretary of State on Women Empowerment Shirin Tahir-Kheli. Representatives of NGO's and human rights organizations in Washington DC also attended the event. The reception was also attended by Senate Chairman Muhammadmian Soomro and Dr. Salman Shah, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Finance and Economic Affairs.

In his remarks on the occasion, Ambassador Jehangir Karamat praised Ms. Mukhtaran for showing great courage in the face of adversity and for launching a campaign for educating the youth in Pakistan . He also highlighted the political, economic, social and legal reforms introduced by the government for the empowerment of women and for the promotion and protection of their rights. In her brief remarks, Ms. Mukhtaran   thanked the participants and the Embassy for inviting her. She recited two lines of a poem, which read that clouds of a dark evening never remain there for ever, and that the day will dawn with assured rights of womenfolk, mothers and sisters- whose strivings would stand duly recognized.

April 24, 2006