ISLAMABAD, Sept 5: Veiled women activist of Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) on Friday staged a protest demonstration outside the Parliament House against the recommendation of the National Commission for the Status of Women (NCSW) to repeal the Hudood Ordinance.

Led by JI Niab Nazima Ms Sakina Shahid, the protesters rejected the recommendations of the NCSW and opposed the idea of imposing, what they called, the suggestions and opinion of few Westernised women on the nation contrary to the will of a majority of women.

Such recommendations could not be helpful in any way to discourage the present exploitation of women in the society rather these would further compound the resolution of problems of women, they observed.

“Majority of women in Pakistan respect the prohibitions imposed by the religion and the teachings of the Holy Prophet (PBUH),” the women demonstrators emphasized adding that the problems being faced by women could only be solved by following the injunctions of Islam.

The women demonstrators were also carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans against the recommendations.

Opposition members in parliament from the Muttahida Majlis-i- Amal (MMA) including Liaquat Baloch, Mian Aslam, Abdullah Akbar Chitrali, Samia Raheel Kazi, Asadullah Bhutto, Farid Ahmad Paracha, Mohammad Usman, Senator Kausar Firdaus and PML-Q member Attia Inayatullah also participated in the demonstration as a mark of solidarity.

Liaquat Baloch said his party would never allow anyone to repeal or amend the Hudood laws adding that a handful of elements intended to secularise Pakistan. He said the Islamic Ideology Council (IIC) was the only forum to decide about Hudood Ordinance. Besides, he said the issue should be brought to parliament for a debate before incorporating any amendment into the ordinance. He assured the protesters that the Alliance would oppose any attempt to amend or repeal any Islamic laws.

The women demonstrators were of the view that the Hudood Ordinance should not be considered an act of an individual (Gen Zia) rather a divine law.

They said the recommendation to repeal such laws would amount to violating the very provisions of the Constitution of Pakistan.

Led by Justice Majida Rizvi, the NCSW had recently asked the government to repeal the Hudood Ordinance and replace it with a new law after holding an open discussion in parliament.