KARACHI, July 20: Civil society organisations on Thursday welcomed the Law Reforms Ordinance-2006 as a source of some relief to women prisoners, and removal of lacunae, ambiguities and confusions in it were needed.

Speaking at a seminar on “Aspects of Women Prisoners’ Release”, organised by the Pakistan Press Foundation at its Vicky Zeitlin Media Library to discuss the ordinance, leaders of various organisations urged the government to extend similar relief to juvenile prisoners also.

Zia Ahmed Awan, President of the Lawyers for Human Rights & Legal Aid, said that amendment to the clause 497 of the Criminal Procedure Code facilitated the release of women prisoners booked under Hudood Ordinance or for petty crimes

“In fact, a large number of women had to suffer detention after being implicated in false cases and booked under Hudood Ordinance. This fact is supplemented by a report of National Commission on the Status of Women which says that 88 per cent women currently in jails have either been convicted or awaiting trial for Zina,” he said, and questioned how the government or the society would compensate them for they cruelty they had been subjected to? He observed that none of the government institutions, including Baitul Maal and Zakat Foundation had any programme for the rehabilitation of the women being released from the prisoners.

Another question he raised was about the early completion of trial after the release of women prisoners on bail. “The women prisoners have been just granted bail while the cases against them were there. Such cases are often kept in pending for a long time. This means the women prisoners would have no access to justice,” he argued.

He urged that the government to repeal the Hudood Ordinance immediately, instead of carrying out amendments to it.

Ms Uzma Noorani, Council Member of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, observed that the existing laws were discriminatory against women and should be repealed forthwith.

“The Law Reforms Ordinance is just a relief and not a solution to the problems being faced by women prisoners.

Ms Shamim Kazmi, President of the Association of Business, Professional and Agricultural Women, stressed on taking such measures that could prevent women and children from being lodged in jails.

Ms Nuzhat of the Aurat Foundation termed the Law Reforms Ordinance ‘a cosmetic measure’ and stressed on sensitising judges women jail staff about the circumstances in which women had to face detention. Mrs Samina Ishaque, Director PPF, also spoke.—PPI