ISLAMABAD, July 11: Chairperson Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), Asma Jehangir on Monday feared a chaotic situation in the North West Frontier Province if the Hasba Bill was implemented. “Hasba Bill will create a parallel judicial system and lead to a complete fiasco in the province,” she said, commenting on the bill moved to the NWFP provincial assembly on Monday.

The human rights organizations, minorities, women, major opposition as well as ruling party and the federal government have criticized the bill.

Opponents of the bill are categorically stating that it is violative of the Constitution, basic human rights, recommendations of Council of Islamic Ideology as well as democratic and social norms.

“This bill will impose a self-appointed custodian (Mohtasib) on the people to teach them how to live,” Ms Asma said.

“People would feel more unsafe and insecure in presence of this new system,” she said.

Women in NWFP, she observed, were already under threat of social and economic restrictions and this new law would further deny them their rights.

She challenged the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal and the NWFP government on validity of the bill and said, “which law or code of life or ethics give them the right to impose such a law on the people”.

“The MMA and the NWFP government has failed to protect the rights of women and they should hold accountability of themselves instead of the people,” the HRCP chief said.

She said Islam provided maximum rights to women and if at least the NWFP could ensure those rights to women, the living condition of women would have improved a lot.

Ms Asma feared that non-government organizations would be the first target of the bill.

When asked about adopting legal course against the bill once it is adopted, the HRCP chairperson said, if the bill is not dealt with according to the Constitution at the federal level, the HRCP would challenge it in the court of law.

“Undoubtedly, we shall challenge it. But, first we shall wait for the response of the federal government,” she added.—APP

Staff Reporter from Islamabad adds: The All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA) has called upon the chief justice of Pakistan to take suo motto action against the proposed Hasba Act to be presented by the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) in NWFP Assembly.

In a statement here on Monday, APMA Chairman Shahbaz Bhatti said he had sent a letter to the chief justice asking him to take steps to stop the religious alliance from “imposing Talibanization in the country.”

Mr Bhatti emphasized that “The fundamental rights of religious minorities and women will be severely hampered and they will become the prime target at the hands of extremists. The proposed Hasba Act will also strengthen the religious fanatics and extremists in Pakistan, who are hell bent to capture all democratic institutions. Such elements are already indulged in violent activities and hate crimes. These elements will be allowed to interpret Holy Quran and Sunnah according to their own thinking through this bill.”