November 15, 2006	Wednesday	Shawwal 22, 1427

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LAHORE, Nov 14: Human Rights Commission of Pakistan chairperson Asma Jehangir has said by adopting the Hasba Bill, the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal government in the NWFP had in fact put in place a powerful network that will play a crucial role in aiding the success of the religious parties in future elections.

Commenting on the adoption of the bill, she said it had nothing to do with Islam. In fact, it amounted to a clever manoeuvre to create a grassroot network of mullahs and could as such have very serious repercussions on the future political scenario of the NWFP. The networks of mullahs (ombudsmen) to be set up from the tehsil to the provincial level would create a strong foundation upon which the MMA could confidently base its future political success.

She pointed out that the conditions laid down for mohtasibs, who would have a Hasba force to back them stated that only the people holding certification from a seminary could hold the office. This meant that women and non-Muslims were excluded for all intents and purposes. The bill also stated that the purpose behind it was to eliminate the ‘un-Islamic practices’ which raised fears as to precisely what activities might be defined as such by the mullahs whose powers would expand under the law.

It must also be noted that while the current bill simply put a mechanism in place, the provisions could in future be expanded to cover many spheres of life, she added.

Ms Jehangir demanded that the powers of networks of mullahs should be curtailed if they infringed on the basic rights of women. It also warned the NWFP bureaucracy that the meddlesome mullahs under the powers available to them could create considerable harassment and as such a source of pressure. The fact was that the MMA had, through the law, tightened its grip on power strings in the NWFP given the current political situation in the country and the increased fragmentation of society. It presented a threat to national harmony and integrity, she concluded.

Meanwhile, the Labour Education Foundation has described the adoption of Hasba Bill as an attempt to create a parallel system of justice and legalise discrimination against women, minorities and workers.

Commenting on the adoption of the bill during a meeting of the foundation here, trade union leaders Khalid Mahmood, Yousaf Baloch, Mahmood Butt and Moeen Nawaz Punnu said it violated the basic human rights given in the 1973 Constitution and was worse than the Hudood Ordinances. The matriculate fundamentalist mullahs would use it as a tool to victimise their political opponents.

They said the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal government in the NWFP had hurried the adoption of the bill to cover up its failure to solve the problems being faced by the people and present itself as a champion of Islam for winning the next general elections. The Federal Shariat Court and the Supreme Court should take suo moto notice of the bill aimed at establishment of a state within the state.