Women rights bill submitted to NA
By Asim Hussain

ISLAMABAD—President Pakistan Muslim League Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain Thursday submitted a draft bill to speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain seeking an end to un-Islamic customs and traditions which has been a cause of exploitation of women in Pakistan.
“This is a follow up of the Women Protection Bill, which was passed by the National Assembly on Wednesday, in which we seek to not only empower women but also give them their due rights,” Chaudhry Shujaat said after presenting the draft bill to Chaudhry Amir. The draft bill seeks an end to vani (marrying off women against their will as compensation in murder cases), forced marriages and marriage to the Holy Quran, denying women their right in inheritance, selling of women and barter marriages. It also makes giving three divorces to woman a cognisable offence. The notary public who signs the document of three divorces and the person who writes such a stamp paper will also be considered as equal partners in the crime.