07 January 2004	Wednesday	14 Ziqa'ad 1424

PESHAWAR, Jan 6: Civil society groups have opposed the proposed Hisba law, as, according to them it will create a parallel law. According to a press release issued here on Tuesday , a community meeting on women rights activists was organized by an NGO, Blue Veins, in village Prang district Charssada.

Speaking at the meeting, advocate Kashif Naseem said that progressive groups feared that the proposed law would be abused. "The Hisba force will be able to enter or search any premises without a search warrant. This is against the personal liberties of the citizens guaranteed in the Constitution," he said.

He said that the civil society groups were worried that the proposed law would stifle personal freedom, civil liberties and human rights. He added that they feared that once such laws were enacted, it would be difficult to repeal them. For instance, he added, the Hudood Ordinances enforced by General Ziaul Haq were against women but had not been repealed.

The participants said that moderate Muslim scholars should come forward and play their role. Religion could not be enforced through laws like prescribing dress code for women, making beard compulsory for men, imposing a ban on photography and music. Violation of women's human rights was an obstacle to the participation of women in the political, social, economic and cultural life.

The participants said that Islam sought to emancipate rather thanto isolate and subjugate women,recognizedwomen's individual rights and status and to empower them as a matter of their own rights.