ISLAMABAD (AFP) - Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf said the government would shortly push through new legislation aimed at empowering women and outlawing forced marriages.
The laws would also ensure women's right to their inheritance, ban the sale of women in the name of marriage and end the age-old practice of marrying women to Koran to deprive them of their share in property, he said on Tuesday.
Musharraf's pledge comes a week after he defied protests by religious fundamentalists and signed into law a "Protection of Women" bill amending the country's Islamic rape legislation.
"A bill is being considered to remove unjust social practices against women and it should be passed by the parliament," Musharraf told a women's convention in Islamabad.
Further legislation now planned by the government was aimed at ending the practice of giving women in marriage to settle disputes, and also at reforming divorce laws, Musharraf said.
"I am proud that the government is considering this law for your betterment and I shall always stand by you," he told the convention.
Musharraf said he wanted to empower women politically and economically so they could play their role in "national development".
"Our government has brought legislation banning honor killings, and an ordinance issued by me has provided for the release of about 1,300 women from jails," he said.
"The women's protection bill is just the beginning and it was a victory for the entire nation and a victory for moderates," he said.
That bill was voted for by parliament last month amid a walkout by Islamic hardliners.
It places rape laws under Pakistan's secular penal code and scraps harsh conditions that require victims to produce four male witnesses, and exposes them to prosecution for adultery if they are unable to prove the rime.
Musharraf soon after grabbing power in a military coup in October 1999 said he wanted to reform the controversial laws, but had backed down on the pledge after strong protests by the Islamic hardliners.
each man thinks of his own fleas as gazelles
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Further legislation now planned by the government was aimed at ending the practice of giving women in marriage to settle disputes, and also at reforming divorce laws, Musharraf said.
Half of the stuff thats been banned or being banned should have been banned anyway I dont get it 'banning honour killings' I mean **** was that allowed at a time??
Anyhow, I feel sorry, giving your daughter to settle a dispute, thats sick. Just like that guy who took a wife to settle a gambling debt.
:grumbling :grumbling
The path is long but I hope we meet,
After the grave and the Day, in paradise in bliss upon a reclined seat.
A traveler traveling - travelled from shirk to tawheed,
If I'm remembered for anything - let it be the Mercy I seek.
forced marriages should completely removed from the muslim cultures inshAllah...
both genders should be given choices...inshAllah....
All i hope is for my mums happiness.Shes my light.Shes my dunya.Her tears are my weakness.Her sadness breaks my heart.She is my mirror.A mirror that keeps me alive.Without her am nothing.shes my saaya.How can i leave her.I pray to Allah(swt) to keep me with her forever inshAllah.
Musharraf described the recent amendment of the 1979 Hudood Ordinance on rape and adultery as victory for Pakistan, blasting its critics, reported Reuters.
"The women's protection bill is just the beginning and it was a victory for the entire nation and a victory for moderates," he said.
That bill was voted for by parliament last month amid a walkout by MPs of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), a coalition of six religious parties.
The new bill places rape laws under Pakistan's secular penal code and scraps harsh conditions that require victims to produce four male witnesses, and exposes them to prosecution for adultery if they are unable to prove the crime.
It slashed the adultery punishment to imprisonment of up to five years against only male perpetrator.
Under the Hudood code, a man and woman found guilty of having sex outside of marriage could be sentenced to death by stoning or 100 lashes, although that has never been enforced and those convicted of the crime get jail or a fine instead.
The MMA alliance argues that the new amendments would promote "free sex".
"I congratulate the entire nation that an aggressively progressive bill has been passed," Musharraf told the women's convention.
He derided its critics and said people should not vote for them in general elections, due next year or in early 2008.
"These people are against progress of Pakistan. They believe in extremism. They don't believe in moderation," Musharraf charged.
"Remember, you have to cast a vote. Remember, you will not vote for those who are against you ... go into the field and mobilize people not to vote for the wrong people.
"If you do that then the future of Pakistan will always be bright."
Last edited by Skillganon; 12-09-2006 at 12:50 AM.
it's so nice to see good news from pakistan!
at least some of all this stuff is cultural in origin. culture seems very difficult to overcome. for example a lot of non-hindu south asians practice a form of caste-ism.
each man thinks of his own fleas as gazelles
question authority
it's so nice to see good news from pakistan!
at least some of all this stuff is cultural in origin. culture seems very difficult to overcome. for example a lot of non-hindu south asians practice a form of caste-ism.
Thats why u have to becareful about what stuff is culture based and whats religion based. Which is why its important for every Muslim to know their religion.
*Without Allah, without Islam, life would be meaningless. If I've ever learned patience, it's because of this. Alhamdulillah...*
Thats why u have to becareful about what stuff is culture based and whats religion based. Which is why its important for every Muslim to know their religion.
i agree.
each man thinks of his own fleas as gazelles
question authority
Because the corrupt Pakistani beauracrats were probably the ones profitting from or commiting it.
More likely because it was a popular custom? Part of the local culture perhaps? Administrators are as much a product of that culture as anyone else. It probably was just 'normal' and/or accepted for centuries.
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