February 25, 2006	Saturday	Muharram 26, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, Feb 24: The Women’s Action Forum (WAF) on Thursday welcomed a statement by the new chairperson of the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW), Dr Arifa Sayeda Zehra, concerning repeal of Hudood ordinances, discrimination against women and gender equality.

A statement issued here said the WAF and other progressive organizations had consistently maintained a firm stand for the repeal of such ordinances. A large number of jurists, the academia, human rights activists and Islamic scholars had declared these laws as unjust and un-Islamic.

The promulgation of these laws in 1979 resulted in victimization of thousands of women and created injustice.

The WAF also commended the fact that on February 7, treasury members in the National Assembly lent support to the PPP for introduction of a draft bill seeking repeal of Hudood Ordinances.

The forum said it was crucial that parliamentary procedures must continue to conform to the highest norms of consultative and democratic law-making against all retrogressive forces which opposed justice and equality of opportunity for women.

It is the responsibility of the government and the peoples’ representatives to fully support and enact similar legislations, such as Equality of Opportunities for Women Bill 2006, Bill on Domestic Violence, Bill against the Blasphemy Law and those addressing equality of all citizens of Pakistan.

The forum called upon the treasury and opposition members, especially women parliamentarians, to stand united and give their strong support to the draft bill for repealing the Hudood ordinances, in the various standing committees, and during voting in the NA and Senate.

The government must take firm stand to ensure their repeal, despite expected agitation of the extremist elements, both inside and outside the parliament, the press release said.