ISLAMABAD, 28 September 2006 — The Protection and Empowerment of Women Bill to amend the Hudood laws that discriminate against women will be presented in the National Assembly, the lower house of Parliament. It is slated to meet on Oct. 4, Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Sher Afgan Niazi told Arab News.
Sher Afghan said the government wanted to empower women politically, socially and economically. “As we got down to the nitty-gritty of the bill in order to identify the loopholes, PML (Q) leaders including its President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Secretary-General Mushahid Hussain held consultations with the Muttaheda Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) leadership. This complicated the situation and the original bill could not be presented before the Parliament.”
Sher Afgan said, “We had no intentions to reform laws to the detriment of women nor did we want to violate Islamic laws. But when the PML (Q) leadership began discussion with the MMA it appeared that too many cooks were about to spoil the broth.”
Sher Afgan is a seasoned and influential parliamentarian from the Pakistan People’s Party Patriots. He said, “President Musharraf through legislative reforms wants to bring women up to par with men in every walk of life.”
He said, “We have sought, and will continue to seek, input from all major parties on the issue. They will be allowed to give their views but we will not allow extra-politicking.
To a question about President Gen. Musharraf’s holding of two offices, he said, “It was the MMA which voted for him in the 17th Constitutional Amendment. The opposition can remove this clause by mustering a two-thirds majority.”
To another question he said President Musharraf had not violated any oath by writing a book while being in office. “Under Article 43 of the constitution there is no bar on the president writing a book.”
