Musharraf for Relief to Women languishing in Jails sans Conviction
'Pakistan Times' Staff Report

RAWALPINDI: President General Pervez Musharraf on Saturday asked the government to take steps to provide relief to women languishing in jails for prolonged period without being convicted and added that they may be considered for release.

He made these remarks, while chairing a meeting, which reviewed women issues and law reforms. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz also attended the meeting.

Senior officials of the Ministry of Law, the Council of Islamic Ideology and the National Commission on Empowerment of Women, in their separate presentations made recommendations for improvement in various laws.

Speaking at the meeting, President Musharraf said that laws could be reviewed in the light of Islam’s eternal teachings and spirit of justice to ensure that these are in conformity with the great religion vis-a-vis dispensation of justice.

He stressed that Islam is for all times and a “Deen” which provides guidance on all aspects of life, while assigning high priority to justice and fairplay.

Prime Minister Aziz in his remarks said that government is firmly committed to ensure common man’s access to inexpensive and quick justice.

The meeting was attended by PML President Ch Shujaat Hussain, Information Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani, Minister of State for information Tariq Azeem, Law Minister Muhammad Wasi Zafar, Minister for Religious Affairs Muhammad Ijaz ul Haq, Minister of State for Religious Affairs Dr Amir Liaquat Ali, Minister for Women Development Sumaira Malik, Attorney General Makhdoom Ali Khan, PML Secretary General Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Minister for Tourism Nilofar Bakhtiar, Chairperson National Com mission on Status of Women Dr.Arifa Syeda Zehra, Chairman CII Dr. Muhammad Khalid Masood and senior officials.●