17 April 2004	Saturday	26 Safar 1425

KARACHI, April 16: A meeting of the Women Action Forum (WAF) has urged the government to repeal the Hudood laws, saying these were discriminatory towards various sections of the society, particularly, the women.

The meeting urged the government not to be intimidated by the militant groups, who were holding entire country hostage through constant threats of violence. The WAF, criticizing the majority of parliamentarians, said that a large number of members of almost all the political parties had gone back on their stated positions on the issue.

The WAF alleged that the NWFP assembly had passed a resolution, threatening violent reaction, even before the publication of the report of the National Commission on the Status of Women, which reviewed the Hudood laws.

The meeting said that the Hudood laws had been reviewed by the government-appointed commissions twice, both headed by judges, which had recommended repeal of these laws after an extended debate and deliberations.

It said that flaws in the Hudood Laws and in their implementation had been established clearly over the past 25 years, adding that a law, which punished victims and let the criminals escape justice, must be abolished.

The meeting said that the Hudood laws were enacted through an ordinance by a dictator, without any consultation or debate, while the suffering caused due to discrepancies in these laws, possibilities of malpractice, opinion taken from various sections of society and recommendations for repeal by two commissions, were still not considered sufficient reasons for the abolishment of these laws.

The WAF said that the opposition of the assembly members to the repeal of these laws, was a direct violation of the Constitution, which clearly stated that all citizens were equal and there should be no discrimination on the basis of religion, gender or any other reason, and also contradicted democratic values, principles and practices.