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Prevention of anti-women practices bill

Khalid Iqbal

RAWALPINDI: Giving mixed reaction to the passage of ‘The Prevention of Anti-women Practices Bill 2008’ by the National Assembly, legal fraternity and general public stated that only strict implementation of the bill will be helpful in protecting women’s rights.

Some senior lawyers expressed grave concern over the bill saying it would increase exploitation and unrest within the families.

District Bar Association (DBA) President Malik Khalid Jawad said that it was a good step, but people could misuse it and would do unlawful acts under the cover of this law. ‘The Prevention of Anti-Women Practice Bill’ would be fruitful only when higher authorities strictly monitor criminal minded people because they would try to misuse this bill for their vested interests. “Law enforcement agencies should be very active in the implementation of this bill in the right direction,” he added.

Senior lawyer of the Supreme Court Khaliq Hussain Bhatti strongly condemned government step saying it would increase enmity within families. He said that it is an unnecessary bill because in 2009-10 government made an amendment in Family Court Ordinance 1964 and according to Section (10)-4 women got right of ‘khula’ and now hundreds of cases of ‘khula’ are being filed in every court on daily basis. “Women should have all rights, but criminal acts would increase within families due to this bill,” he added.

District Bar Association (DBA) former vice president Malik Abdul Hameed appreciated government’s step saying strict implementation of the act is the only key to its success. He said that there are several examples in which feudal lords and rich people did marry their daughters and sisters to the Holy Qur’aan just to save their ancestral property. “This bill would discourage such kind of practices, but it could only be possible through strict implementation,” he added.
Source: The News
Date:11/17/2011