President secures CII backing on WP Bill
By Makhdoom Babar

RAWALPINDI—The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) has expressed its full support to the Women Protection Bill and termed it a step in the right direction. This law will remove many of the anomalies in the existing laws relating to women.
During a meeting with President Pervez Musharraf here on Thursday, the Chairman and members of the Council said the process of protecting women’s rights must continue. They said the government should take more initiatives for the protection of women, the weakest segment of the society. The Council strongly recommended that women should not be kept in jails and said the Council would continue to review all laws and make suggestions for improvements. They said the Council is a recommendatory body and the Parliament being the supreme body has the authority to enact laws as it did in the case of the Women Protection Bill.
President General Pervez Musharraf Thursday said government and parliament could not imagine legislating contrary to Quran and Sunnah. “The Women Protection Bill will provide relief to the womenfolk and government will continue enacting laws, which provide them more protection,” he observed this while talking to Chairman and members of Council of Islamic Ideology who called on him at the Rawalpindi Camp Office. Sources privy to the said scribe told that President Musharraf made it clear that WPB was a great step for mitigating discriminatory attitude against the women. He also pointed out the Ordinance for release of women from prisons has also provided relief to women. We are trying to provide equal opportunities to the women.
Rebutting the criticism leveled against WPB, the President said this bill is not repugnant to Quran and Sunnah whereas opinion of all segments of the society was sought before finalizing its draft. Chairman and members of Council of Islamic Ideology also supported WPB and termed it a step in the right direction.
The council said that they would try to alleviate the flaws in present laws vis-à-vis WPB. They said the struggle for women protection should go on because women are important part of the society, who had been neglected in the past. The Council also proposed that women should no be kept in jails. President general Pervez Musharraf has advocated the need for pursuing a comprehensive strategy to stamp out terrorism adding Pakistan will continue its cooperation with international community on this count. “The need is there that an elaborate strategy is adopted to curb the menace of terrorism. Pakistan is fighting war against the terrorism not only in national interest but also for the sake of peace and stability in the world. It will continue its cooperation with international community in this respect”, he said this during a meeting with a visiting 7-member delegation of British House of Commons which called on him here in Presidential camp Thursday. The delegation was led by Mike Gapes.
The talks took place in an open and frank manner. Key regional and international matters featured in the meeting. President General Pervez Musharraf made Pakistan stance clear on the delegation on the matters related to national security, peace talks between Pakistan and India and situation of Afghanistan. Stress was laid on expanding cooperation and consultative process in all sectors in the meeting. President held that tribesmen are very patriotic and “ we have launched several projects for their economic uplift and their integration into national mainstream. Steps are underway for eradication of extremism and terrorism , he added. Pakistan wants lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan, he said adding it is not only in our own interest but also in the interest of the whole region.
Referring to Kashmir conundrum President said Pakistan wants meaningful and result oriented talks to settle all contentious issues including core issue of Kashmir.