By S Tajammal H Rizvi
It is great news and a good omen that a female has been appointed as a judge in the Federal Shariat Court for the very first time since its establishment about 34 years ago.
Madam Ashraf Jehan was a brilliant additional judge of the Sindh High Court.
In this era, governed by oppression of conservative narrow-minded men of religion, this appointment will be a sigh of relief for the enlightened class within the country and abroad. It will also send a clear message that there is no gender discrimination in this country, even in the highest religious forum of Pakistan.
The Federal Shariat Court was constituted primarily to see whether or not laws enacted in the country were in conformity with Islamic injunctions and act as an appellate court for Hadood laws. Hadood cases pertaining to accused women will now definitely be dealt with in a more befitting manner in the presence of a lady judge.
Daily Times
