The Women in Law Initiative Pakistan held a three-day landmark and historic exhibition at the Alhamra Art Gallery in Lahore from April 25–27.
This exhibition was held to mark the 100 years of the law that removed doubts about women's rights and eligibility to practice law and sought to trace the progress that female legal professionals have made since then till date.
The exhibition features over 200 female legal professionals and law students who come from diverse backgrounds from all parts of the country, as well as Pakistani women working abroad in international organizations, law firms, and universities.
From Saidu Sharif to Turbat and Muzafarabad to Larkana, the exhibition is an important repository of the history and contributions of female lawyers.
While commenting on the objective behind putting this exhibition together, the founder of the women in law initiative in Pakistan, Nida Usman Chaudhary, said, "We wanted to trace the progress and create awareness around the work and diversity of female legal professionals because visibility matters."
The Secretary of the Women Development Department, Sumaira Samad, was the Guest of Honor at the opening session, while Hon'ble Justice Ayesha Malik, Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, was the Guest of Honor for the closing session.
While commenting on the initiative's #visbilitymatters campaign, of which this exhibition was a part, Justice Ayesha said, "You cannot include what you cannot see" and congratulated the organizers for their effort to bring this visibility. She stressed the need for working for equality and pushing for equality as a goal.
The event was attended by 500+ participants from all parts of the country, including Quetta, Peshawar, Karachi, Islamabad, and Lahore.
The visitors included delegations from schools and representatives from high commissions and ambassadors, including those from the Netherlands and Canada, representatives from the Prime Minister's Youth Programme, and prominent members of the bar and judiciary, amongst others.