ISLAMABAD, March 11: The Joint Action Committee (JAC), compromising a number of NGOs from the twin cities, has condemned the ruling coalition-MMA deal on Hudood ordinances.

"We, as representatives of civil society organizations, express our total outrage at the news that the prime minister and president of the PML-Q have mutually decided that the Hudood ordinances will not be touched, so as to avoid a possible confrontation with the religious element, particularly the MMA," said a press release issued here on Thursday.

"We are shocked that the prime minister, to ensure continued cooperation by the MMA, has given a categorical assurance to the leader of the Jamaat-i-Islami that the law will neither be repealed nor amended," it added. It exposes the hollow claims of commitment by the present government to human rights, particularly the rights of women.

"We would once again like to bring to the attention of all elected representatives that the repeal of the Hudood ordinances of 1979, considered most derogatory law in the context of women rights, has been a constant demand of all human rights organizations, joined and endorsed by various sectors of civil society, including socio-economic development NGOs, rural and urban CBOs, lawyers, trade unions, academicians, local bodies, political representatives and media," it added.