PML set out to build consensus for new legislation
By Asim Hussain

ISLAMABAD—Central Executive Committee of Pakistan Muslim League Monday decided to consult its coalition partners including Muttahida Qaumi Movement on all the political issues including the proposed new legislation for the welfare and empowerment of women.
The CEC of Pakistan Muslim League, held here at PML House under the Chairmanship of its President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain was especially attended by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, members of the CEC, senior PML leaders, Chief Minister Punjab Chaudhry Pervez Elahi and Chief Minister Sindh Dr. Arbab Ghulam Rahim. Talking to newsmen after the meeting, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said, the process of consultation with all the coalition partners would continue to improve the proposed legislation for the betterment of women.
The Prime Minister said consultation is important in the democratic set up. Shaukat Aziz said, “There is democratic process in the country and the government always discuss all the issues and political matters with other coalition partners which will continue in future also.” Replying to a question about the planned protest by MQM on the issue of next legislation for women, the Prime Minister said, “It will be resolved through negotiation and mutual consultation within the coalition partners” adding that the new legislation could provide maximum benefit to the masses.
The Prime Minister said the CEC also fully endorsed the passage of Women Protection Bill (WPB), recently passed by the National Assembly, Senate and its assent by the President General Pervez Musharraf. Shaukat Aziz said the proposed legislation submitted by President PML Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain in the National Assembly was also discussed in the CEC and it was informed that it would provide more rights to the women and end discriminatory laws against them.
He said, the new proposed legislation, would ensure more empowerment of the women and give them more rights besides dealing with the family laws, forced marriages, wani, marriage to Quran and barter marriages. The Prime Minister said the draft bill aims at doing away with centuries old un-Islamic practices, local traditions and customs that treated the women as mere objects.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said the new legislation was in conformity with the injunctions of Quran and Sunnah adding that the WPB was also in accordance with Quran and Sunnah. The Prime Minister said the government took decisions to protect the rights of the women adding that more measures would be taken for the emancipation of women, their protection and removal of injustices against them.
Shaukat Aziz said that WPB was prepared after consultation and negotiation with the parliamentarians and ulema while the new proposed laws would also be framed after consultation with Ulema belonging to different schools of thoughts. He said the enactment of the WPB has brought a sigh of relief for women, that constitute almost half of country’s population, and feel more secure as their status has been elevated in the society.