ISLAMABAD, Dec 4: PML president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has expressed satisfaction on the passage of women’s rights bill by parliament and accused the MMA leadership of misleading the people on the issue.

Chairing a meeting of the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) at the PML house here on Monday, Chaudhry Shujaat said that the decision on the bill had been taken at a meeting of PML’s women wing and parliament members belonging to the party on May 19.

“This bill is now a part of the Constitution and there is no difference of opinion among PML leaders on the issue,” he said, adding: “With the approval of the bill, the PML has fulfilled its promise to women.”

Chaudhry Shujaat said: “The MMA leadership is misleading people by bringing them on the streets. By choosing Gujrat from among the 35 districts of the Punjab, they have actually launched a hate campaign against us.”

He declared that no extra-constitutional body would be set up in place of the Council of Islamic Ideology.

Briefing the CEC members on his meeting with ulema, the PML president said it was held to seek their viewpoint on another bill which he had submitted to the National Assembly Secretariat, and there was no question of amending the women’s rights already signed into a law.

He said at the December 9 meeting with ulema, the government side would reply to the six objections raised by them. The process of consultation with ulema was under way and their suggestions would be accommodated in the upcoming bill.

Chaudhry Shujaat advised the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) to call off their protest, scheduled for Tuesday against the PML meeting with ulema. He said he was ready to explain his viewpoint on the whole issue to the satisfaction of the MQM.

Insiders said that some members of the CEC expressed anger over MQM’s outburst against the party and called for taking a serious note of it.

The CEC meeting was also attended by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, who briefed the participants on his recent foreign visits, the visits of foreign dignitaries to the country, government’s performance on various issues, prevailing political situation and development initiatives in Balochistan, said a party press release issued after the meeting.

The meeting was also attended by secretary-general Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Chief Minister of Punjab Chaudhry Parvez Elahi, Chief Minister of Sindh Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Salim Saifullah Khan, Lt-Gen (retd) Majeed Malik, Gohar Ayub Khan and Mian Manzoor Wattoo.

A resolution passed on the occasion hailed the approval of the bill, and paid tribute to President Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and PML president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain. It hoped that further steps would be taken for the protection of rights and interests of women in Pakistan.

“The meeting is of the understanding that Islam has given maximum rights to women. Old and redundant customs and traditions concerning women will be abolished and every possible step would be taken to safeguard the individual and collective rights and privileges of women,” it said.