ISLAMABAD: Senate Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani on Wednesday said struggle against gender discrimination remained an active part of movement for restoration of the supremacy of constitution, rule of law, and restoration of democracy in the country. He expressed these views while addressing at an international conference on “Gender Knowledge in Pakistan, Production, Dissemination and Contestation” organised by Department of Gender Studies, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad at Higher Education Commission (HEC) Auditorium. The Senate chairman said that amendments made in the constitution with the passage of time have also incorporated the provision to increase participation of women in the democratic process and has negated the gender discrimination in different spheres of life. In order to challenge the designs of those elements intended to drift from the supremacy of rule of law and constitution, the political parties and civil society should continue their struggle, so as the advantages gained for the democracy should not be wasted, he said. “We are proud of the political struggle for the restoration and strengthening of democratic institutions but this struggle still continues. It is the responsibility of political parties and civil society to benefit from the past struggle and not allow those elements to succeed, which still want to deviate and drift from path and direction given by Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Such elements try to give their own meaning to address of the Quaid i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah to the first legislative assembly”, he added. “It is our collective responsibility that we don’t allow this drift from the supremacy of constitution to take place. Unfortunately, the resistance that we have witnessed in the era of 60s and 70s has given way to complacency and compromises”, Rabbani said. “If we will make compromises and give way to such elements, the young generation will question us and history will question us too”, Senate chairman maintained. He said that the political workers were subjected to jails and torture for their struggle against non-democratic forces and for restoration of the supremacy of constitution. The civil society and political parties have the responsibility on their shoulders to give a direction to the state, as there are forces, which still want to deviate from the path of a democratic and liberal state, he added. The Senate chairman appreciated the Department of Gender Studies, Quaid-i-Azam University, for organising an international conference on this important issue and expressed the hope that it would help gear up efforts in this area.