Amends
incorporated in Select body bill: PM
ISLAMABAD—Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Wednesday said the Protection
of Women Bill passed by the National Assembly was in accordance with the
injunctions of Islam as no one can dare to legislate against the
religion in the country.
The country’s Constitution guarantees the supremacy of Holy Quran and
Sunnah and the entire legislation is made in accordance with it, the
Prime Minister said talking to reporters in the National Assemly after
the passage of the Bill.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Muhammad Ali Durrani and
Minister for Law, Justice and Human Rights Wasi Zafar were also present
in his Chamber. The Prime Minister said that the government will
continue its efforts for the empowerment of women through a continuous
legislative business by adopting the consultation process with different
segments of the society.
Shaukat Aziz said that the women protection bill was adopted through the
consultative process, as Ulema, Mashaikh and other notables representing
various segments of the society were engaged in the process of
finalization of the Bill. He said the Bill was also discussed with the
members of the parliament to include their proposals.
He said, “We went through a long and lengthy process of consultation on
the Bill before its passage in the assembly.” The Prime Minister said
the Bill was first discussed by the Select Committee which was then sent
to the National Assembly.
He said some amendments were incorporated in the Bill, in consultation
with the members and then it was passed by the House. Shaukat Aziz said
there is no justification for the MMA to resign from the House as the
bill recommended by the Select Committee has not been passed. “It was
Select Committee Plus bill, as a number of new clauses were added to the
bill made earlier by the Select Committee.”
The Prime Minister said at the time of the passage of bill, which was
the historic moment in the parliamentary history of the country, 157
member from PML and allied parties, 31 members from PPP
(Parliamentarian) and 3 members of PML (N) were present in the house.
He said the three members of PML (N) had abstained while the members of
MMA had left the house, therefore, the bill was adopted with unanimity
by the members present in the house. He said the bill would help
alleviate the hardships of women folk in the country.
Referring to the six points presented by PML President Chaudhry Shujaat
Hussain, Shaukat Aziz said, a bill would be soon tabled in the house
thus protecting women against the unethical customs like Wani,
deprivation from the right of inheritance and important matters.
He said a consultative process would be adopted again for the passage of
the bill. He said for the first time this government has introduced the
spirit of consultation that will go a long way in restrengthening the
democratic process in the country.—APP |
