KARACHI, July 25: There is dire and urgent need to modify the feudalistic mindset and disprove tribal practices affecting lives of both rural and urban women at varied levels and under varied circumstances.
This was the consensus opinion of women representatives in the decision-making bodies, lawyers, jurists, scholars and media personnel attending a consultative advocacy forum on `Impact of family laws on the rights of divorced women in Pakistan’ organised by the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) here on Tuesday.
The meeting called for incorporation amendments to the laws suggested by the NCSW Report in 1997.
Senior lawyers and human rights activists suggested implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (Cedaw), which has since long been ratified by Pakistan.
The participants called for proper understanding of law and reviewing different provisions found to be discriminatory against citizens.
NCSW Policy Research Officer Syed Viqarunnisa Hashmi discussed the gaps in the prevailing legal system hampering protection of women’s rights under the Family Laws.
She referred to the fact that there was no provision for payment of damages to a woman given divorce without any valid reason coupled with lack of legal provision for a divorced woman to get the divorce registered.
Ms Hashmi referred to inadequacy and complexity of procedural laws and lack of procedure for summary trial coupled with the fact that arbitration councils were least effective and they lacked power to enforce the payment of maintenance.
“Practically, issuance of divorce certificates takes six months,” she pointed out.
With regard to Musalihat Anjuman (Punjab Local Government Ordinance 2001), she cited the lacunae preventing appointment of a woman councillor as a member of the commission as well as the fact that it lacked specific provision for the settlement of family matters.
The researcher referred to inadequate number of family courts, low percentage of women judicial officers and multiple jurisdictions of family courts.
She enumerated embarrassment, social stigma, waiver of rights, suffering in silence and borrowing or reliance on others leading to exploitation as some of the commonly witnessed consequences faced by a divorced woman.
Sindh Assembly member Sharaf Leghari referred to the plight of rural women from lower socio-economic rung, who quite frequently were expected to make earnings for herself and her children yet were subject to divorce at whim of their spouses.—APP
