Musharraf vows to protect rights, empowerment of Women
By Aziz Malik 'Pakistan Times' Federal Bureau Chief

ISLAMABAD: President General Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday termed the passage of bill on women protection as historic and said it would guard them against any excesses and injustices and ensure their rights enshrined in the Holy Quran and Sunnah.

Addressing the nation on radio and television, the President said a series of legislation is underway and the process of emancipation, welfare and protection of women will continue.

“Today is a historic day ... the National Assembly has not only completed its four years but it has also passed a historic bill,” the President said.

President Musharraf rejected as totally baseless perceptions that the new law was against the injunction of Islam.

“I assure the entire nation that no Pakistani can ever think of enacting law that is repugnant to the Holy Quran and the Sunnah.

“This law is fully in conformity with the Holy Quran and the Sunnah and there is no violation,” he added.

President Musharraf greeted the entire nation for the historic passage of the bill.

“I congratulate women of Pakistan - mothers, sisters and children - for whose protection the law has been enacted,” he said.

The President greeted Pakistan Muslim League, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, Ch. Shujaat Hussain and allied parties, the MQM, PPP, PPP (S) and PML (F), and above all the National Assembly for the passage of the Bill.

He also greeted and expressed his gratitude to PKMAP and PPP Parliamentarians for their support.

The President especially extended greetings to media for creating awareness among the people about the Hudood Ordinance.

The New Legislation

Explaining the new legislation, the President said that of the five laws under the Hudood Ordinance, only the one dealing with rape and adultery has been dealt with.

The remaining four laws - prohibition, false accusation, property related and the law dealing with whipping - have not been touched.

“We have not touched four of these and they are part of the Hudood Ordinance.”

Only the first part - rape and adultery - has been amended keeping in view the principles of justice, he added.

The President said it was a matter of shame how injustice was meted out to women of Pakistan.

“It was sheer ‘jabar’ and ‘zulm’. It is their (women) right and our duty to protect rights of women,” he added.

The President said that grave injustices had been meted out to women under the previous law of rape and adultery in the Hudood Ordinance.

A woman had to produce four male witnesses to prove rape charges or face prosecution under adultery.

“It was utterly shameful.” he added.

Now rape has been placed under the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). Any woman, who has been raped and have evidence but no witnesses, the perpetrator will have to face justice and there will be no more such injustices, he added.

He said in case of adultery, a woman could have been punished under the previous legislation, if a man accused her of adultery even without having four witnesses. This, he added, was sheer injustice to women.

To rectify it, section 10 of the PPC has been done away with, the President said but added, however it created an impression as if it would lead to lewdness in the society.

It was, therefore, decided to introduce article 496 (B) in the PPC under which the perpetrators could be sentenced up to five years imprisonment. He credited the PML members and legal experts for introducing the new article.

However, to prevent any misuse, the President said that the offense has been made non-cognizable and now the case could only be registered by the orders of the court and with two witnesses.

As in the “Kazaf”, anyone making false accusation could be punished and jailed for up to five years.

The offense has also been made non-transferable, he added.

“We have made it water-tight so that there is no injustice to women,” the President added.

Women languishing in Jails

President Musharraf pointed out that thousands of women were languishing in jails as the male members of the family, while using the old law, got registered cases against women for petty property disputes or to punish them for marrying without family consent.

He hoped that the new law would plug routes of injustices to women in future.

The President dispelled the impression that the government had introduced the new article of 496(B) under any pressure or under the dictates of the MMA.

“It were the PML members and the legal experts sitting in National Assembly and Senate who proposed that it {496 (B)} should be introduced keeping in view the ground realities,” he said and added that the rationale behind the new article was to prevent lewdness in the society.

President Musharraf lauded the work of a parliamentary Select Committee for framing the law and for their hard working and dedication.

About the delay in the passage of the bill, the President said there were many behind-the-scene activities to make the bill acceptable to all.

He said on the one side a group - religious extremists - wanted the government not to touch it, while the other - liberal extremists - wanted its repeal.

“We worked for developing consensus and discussed it with all, both the liberals and the Ulema and took them on board to reach a decision.”

He lauded the role of Council of Islamic Ideology for playing a key role and said under their guidance a lot was achieved.

The President said the government was sincere in bringing about the changes and ensured justice and to support the right.

He hoped the upper house will also approve the bill with majority.

“We will continue our struggle to achieve this objective to fight against injustices of all sorts and for their elimination.”

President Musharraf referred to the Bill of Honour Killing that had already been adopted.

He said the government would continue to work for the protection of women against social customs such as marrying women with the Holy Quran, Wani, Watta-Satta or exchange marriages.

The President indicated that the government would also introduce legislation on these issues to fully protect women and their rights.

He said it was time that the moderates and progressive forces, who were in majority and wished to take Pakistan forward, should rise and display their strength to the extremists, to tell them they will have no say and voice of moderates would prevail.

He urged the nation to support the progressive forces in the next election while rejecting the extremist forces as Pakistan’s defence, solidarity and future depended on it.

“I hope you will vote for the progressive forces who wish to bring justice and moderation to the society. Inshallah the moderates will emerge victorious,” the President added.●