February 28, 2003	Friday	Zul Hijjah 26, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Feb 27: The joint action committee of women on Thursday held a protest demonstration outside the Parliament House to condemn discriminatory laws against women.

A large number of women activists marched from China Chowk to the Parliament House, raising slogans, and carrying banners and placards inscribed with messages against laws like Hudood ordinance, Qisas and Diyat provisions, Qanoon-i-Shahadat, blasphemy law and Shariah Act. They called such laws retrogressive legislation.

They called for repealing such laws and making prompt legislation against domestic violence due to which scores of women were losing their lives every year.

The women protesters also handed over a petition to the members of the Parliament, who had came to show support in favour of their demands.

The demonstrators asked the parliamentarians to take practical steps, instead of rendering mere lip service and form a strategy to annul these laws.

People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPP) leader Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, talking to the demonstrators, held out party’s assurance to mount joint struggle against discriminatory laws and to convey the concerns of the women to the Parliament.

He said the PPP did not accept the validity and morality of the Hudood laws, and it was party’s principled stand to introduce stringent legislation against these laws.

Referring to the allegations that the PPP failed to repeal such controversial laws when it was in power, he said, since the party did not have majority in the Senate, therefore, no legislation forwarded by the party could have been passed through the Upper House. Dr Fahmida Mirza, PPP women parliamentarian, said the party had always struggled against such laws, and, therefore, had clear vision about the issue.

Gul Farkhanda of Millat Party also assured the demonstrators of her party’s support on this issue. At this, the protesters raised slogans in favour of the women parliamentarians.

The joint action committee, a coalition of NGOs and civil society organizations, expressed concern over violation of women rights, and the deteriorating situation of human rights and civil liberties in the country.

“Our vision for Pakistan is of a non-theocratic, pluralist society, free of oppressive patriarchal traditions, socio-cultural norms and customs, living peacefully in linguistic, ethnic, political, gender, communal, religious and sectarian tolerance and harmony, good governance, human development, exercise of basic human rights and access to equal opportunities for all, especially women and non-Muslim citizens,” said a statement distributed among the parliamentarians. The protectors also called upon all progressive and committed individuals and groups to join in their on-going struggle.

The joint action committee comprised Women Action Forum, Uks, International Women Welfare Association, SDPI, Sungi, Rozan, Sach, Human rights Commission of Pakistan, Pattan Development Organization, Aurat Foundation, Bedari Cavish, The Network, Christian Study Centre, Nomad and Hawwa.