November 14, 2006	Tuesday	Shawwal 21, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, Nov 13: Minorities have criticised the proposed Hasba Bill, terming it a conspiracy to impose ‘Talibanisation’ in the North Western Frontier Province (NWFP). All Parties Minorities Alliance (Apma) Chairman Shahbaz Bhatti here on Monday said: “Hasba Bill is unconstitutional, religious marshal law, and parallel to legal system that will spread anarchy and chaos in the society and will deprive the general public of their rights and liberty.

“The provincial government can use this bill to victimise its political opponents.”

The bill, he said, was also a conspiracy against the integrity and solidarity of the country and would hamper the efforts to promote interfaith harmony, democratic culture and enlightened moderate image of the country. It will harm basic human rights of minorities and women and will curtail religious freedom in NWFP, he added.

Mr Bhatti further said the Hasba Bill was inconsistent with the common laws of the country, adding that the NWFP government, despite of opposition from various sections of the society, was bent upon getting the law passed from the provincial assembly.

The Apma chief emphasised that the Hasba act was a hanging sword for religious minorities and women as they would become the prime target of extremists.

Hasba Bill, he said, would also strengthen the religious fanatics and extremists in Pakistan who were hell bent to capture all democratic institutions.