Haji Ali row: Elected representatives failed to fulfil constitutional obligation of gender justice, says Women's group

Reacting to the stand taken by the Congress on women's entry to Haji Ali Dargah's core area, a women's group, which is fighting the case in the high court, said political parties had become "patriarchal" in their approach and elected representatives had failed to fulfil their constitutional obligation of gender justice.

Zakia Soman and Noorjehan Safia Niaz, the petitioners in the public interest litigation filed with the HC challenging the ban, said they would wait for the HC verdict.

Congress's minority cell president defended the stand of the Haji Ali Dargah management, saying it had the right to decide who can enter and that there is no limit to freedom.

Niaz said, "It was expected of them to take the stand. We will wait for the court verdict."

Soman said political parties had tried to give colour to the issue when it was a gender discrimination problem. "All the speculation and the colour they are giving will be laid to rest. The order will be binding on all. Political parties are free and have tried to give the issue different colours. But in our petition we are clear that there cannot be gender discrimination," she added.

"All political parties cutting across party lines have a patriarchal mindset. Elected representatives have failed to provide gender justice, which is their constitutional obligation. The significance of the order is huge because it will uphold justice."

The hearing on the order is over. The judgment is expected to come in the last week of July.