The women’s protection bill of Pakistan — which will dramatically alter the rape laws of Pakistan — has a chance of being passed this coming Monday. The bill is an attempt to reform the draconian rape laws of Pakistan from 1979, passed by then dictator Zia ul Haq under the auspices of the religious establishment (part of the hudood ordinance).
This has been a contentious issue in Pakistan (see my commentary on it here). I have been in correspondence with individuals who are involved in the Women’s Protection Bill. While on one hand they have had to contend with the religious establishment, they have also ran into opposition by some liberal groups, and international NGO’s like Human Rights Watch, who find the proposed amendments inadequate.
What the reformists are trying to explain, however, is that while total repeal of the bill would be wonderful, politics is a process, and that means taking whatever progress that can be gotten right now. While concerns about the fact that the bill is being pushed through by a dictator (Musharraf) are valid, they are unfair in light of the tremendous abuses that will be alleviated if this bill is passed. In the short term, the reformists — and those backing the bill — need our support. Later, more progress can be made.
In an op-ed that appeared in The Daily Times today (10 September, 2006) Feisal Naqvi points out:
…the response from women’s groups to the proposed Women’s Protection Act has either been hostile or at best, tepid. Instead of supporting the bill, women’s groups have only reiterated their demand for the complete repeal of the Hudood Ordinance. What these groups forget is that politics is the art of ‘the possible’. The Women’s Protection Act may not be perfect but it will certainly bring relief to millions of oppressed women. In any event, the fight for repeal can always be carried on later.
The reformists need to be recognized for the good they have achieved despite the enormous difficulties, and not to be criticized for what they have failed to achieve. The full article by Feisal Naqvi in The Daily Times is worth a read because it clearly explains what the issues are and how they are being dealt with in the new law. It concludes:
If all goes according to the government’s plan, much of what is undesirable in the Offence of Zina (Enforcement of Hudood) Ordinance, 1979 (to give the law its full name) will be quietly gutted through the proposed Protection of Women’s Act… The proposed law marks the absolute limit of what is possible in terms of today’s political climate. More importantly, the Protection of Women’s Act is not a whitewash job: instead, it addresses and fixes the major sources of women’s oppression under the Hudood Ordinance.
The best thing to do right now is to support the efforts of the reformists and later carry their torch further. It would be a terrible tragedy if after decades of efforts the amendments were tabled due to inadequate support by progressives. Well intentioned people around the world need to express their support. (For more see: ‘The Right To Own Women’ and Women’s Protection Bill Cheat Sheet). [Also see earlier ATP Poll on related issue].
Ali Eteraz describes himself as “a continental philosopher, essayist, novelist, student of Islamic arts, philosophy, jurisprudence and a practitioner of global nomadism” and blogs under this pseudonym at Eteraz, where you will find much on this and related subjects.
If you ladies are really keen then why dnot you come out of your A/C rooms and raise voice against Honor Killings,KaroKari,Vani traditions?
What so called pathetic NGOs has done for women in Pakistan?There are thousands of women NGOs,i remember one;”Aurat Foundation” if i am not wrong.What has it done?
Even such pathetic NGOs tried their best to cash Mukhtaran Mai incident.General made a mistake.He should have rather criticised NGOs rather that victimised lady.
From yesterday’s Sunday
Govt’s ulema team seeks time to review bill
Mufti Muneebur Rehman said: “We have asked the government to give us time to deliberate over the bill because we cannot give any opinion without studying the draft bill. If the government wants to get it passed then there is no need of consultation, nor can we give any opinion in such haste.â€
Both of you ladies make a bit effortt to read these:
Ammendment1
Ammendment 2
The second objection is damn funny.Even a non-law person like me KNEW that HIM doesnt mean a MAN only.Some of you had revealed that she is a lawyer.Does that lady can shed some words about this absurd ammendment?
The first link is self explainatory.If such ammendments giving Protection to women then Allah khair karay *grin*
p.s:dont you think me half baked zelots are not so ignorant than pseudo intellectuals who just Reject anything without going thru it?
I really find no difference between those lame MMA people and our so called liberal and educated class.Both didnt bother to read the text and just rejected it.Tsk tsk.May God save this state from both kind of extreme.
Ayesha then do you also belive innocently that this law is really all about PROTECTING WOMEN?
Ayesha, unfortunately the problem with half backed religious zealots is that they are incapable of forming an opinion without comparing it to secularism.
And its really unfortunate that so called “degree holders” jahils don’t bother to go indepth and start chanting about anything which has the keyword ‘Islam’.Educated class of us who is a crappy copycat version of West always ready to buy every shitty things from west.Did you ever bother to find out about secularism?and what is it all about?
I request both of you ladies to go thru links before come here and throw statments.I am tired of dealings with so called women rights activists.Offcourse people like you breed culprits like Asima Jehangir and Hina Jilani.
I hit the submit bottom before I could complete, but, the last sentences was suppose to read:
“generalisation is amazing isn’t it – I can make anyone a culprit by putting them in small groups? Hopefully, that should make people think before they start putting people in boxes”
I think it is complete idiocy to say that just because that teh amending law is not going to material change life of women on the day it is passed or even implemented it should not be passed at all. We don’t catch all the murderers and thieves so should we not have laws which make murder and theft a crime?
Many women activist feel that the proposed is too little too late and in order to take away the real stink of the matter we should repeal the ordinance in its totality. However, I agree with the author of the post that we should celebrate what is being achieved and then work towards repealing rest of the ordinance.
On a completely different note, I think that the amendment, which proposes amending the definition of rape in penal code is over zealous and gives to narrow a definition of the crime. I think the definition in the penal code is quite effective and should not be amended.
Ayesha, unfortunately the problem with half backed religious zealots is that they are incapable of forming an opinion without comparing it to secularism. They also have an amazing art of stereotyping and generalisation.