Islamabad: The Ministry of Human Rights has launched an awareness campaign to educate people about women’s right to inheritance under Islamic jurisprudence and the country’s Constitution. The Ministry has set up a telephone helpline – 1099 – to provide free legal advice on the matter. The announcement was made on Friday, through the ruling Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf’s official Twitter account. A video message was also released on the campaign featuring the chairman of the Council of Islamic Ideology, Dr Qibla Ijaz, who said, “It is shameful that women are talked out of their inheritance through emotional blackmail and family pressure.” He added, “Islam and Pakistan’s Constitution offer clear guidance on the matter. Articles 23 and 24 of the 1973 Constitution furnishes complete details regarding matters of inheritance and provides clear guidelines regarding women’s rights in this regard.” The statement issued by the ruling party on the occasion said, “Women’s right to inheritance has been one of the cornerstones of PM Imran Khan’s struggle for equality and justice in Pakistan. We are proud to announce that the Ministry of Human Rights will be launching a nationwide campaign to educate people on this issue.” The matter of women’s inheritance has been taken up in the Article 23 of the Constitution. It states, “Provision as to property: Every citizen shall have the right to acquire, hold and dispose of property in any part of Pakistan, subject to the Constitution and any reasonable restrictions imposed by law in the public interest.” Article 24 talks about the protection of the right to property and states that no person shall be deprived of their property save in accordance with law. Published in Daily Times, September 15th 2018.