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Surprise move to repeal anti-women law

B. Muralidhar Reddy

Musharraf Government backs private member's bill in the National Assembly The laws have been criticised by civil rights activists as heavily loaded against women and there have been demands for their repeal.

ISLAMABAD: The ruling combine of Pakistan has surprised the Opposition benches with its decision to back a private member's bill seeking repeal of the much publicised Hudood laws considered to be tilted against women and introduced during the regime of Zia-ul-Haq.

On Tuesday the treasury members in the National Assembly lent support to the PPP Parliamentarian who introduced the draft bill. The move prompted a walkout by members of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA), conglomerate of religious parties and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.

The Hudood laws have been criticised by civil rights activists from within and without as heavily loaded against women and there have been demands from time to time for their repeal.

Despite promises by the Musharraf regime for amendments to address the grievances of the civil rights groups, the Government has failed to move fearing a backlash from the right wing forces.

The PPP members are keeping their fingers crossed on the ruling benches' support in the days to come.

Twice before, PPP Parliamentarian MNA Sherry Rahman had presented the draft bill in the House but could not get it cleared due to strong opposition from the Government. This time, Law Minister Chaudhry Wasi Zafar said the Government did not want to oppose it and it might be referred to the House committee on law.

The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA), whose leaders were not present at the time, registered its opposition describing the bill as anti-Islam and staged a walkout. The PML-N joined it.

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