January 04, 2008	Friday	Zilhaj 24, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Jan 3: Expressing concern over increasing incidents of violence against women in the country, the Council of Islamic Ideology has decided to review relevant domestic laws.

The council in a meeting here on Thursday discussed ways of preventing violence against women.

The council decided that laws relating to domestic violence would be reviewed and forwarded to the CII law committee for proposing amendments required to be made. The council regretted that domestic violence was not considered a criminal offence in the country’s law and culture.

The meeting said the Election Commission should ensure that women exercised their right to vote in the country.

The council will arrange a workshop on domestic violence and its recommendations will be published.

It asked the government to set up a special section in parliament and provincial legislators for implementation of its recommendations.

Council of Islamic Ideology chairman Dr Mohammad Masood presided over the meeting which was attended among others by Syed Afzal Haider, Dr Manzoor Ahmed, Javed Ahmed Ghamidi, Justice (retd) Munir Ahmed Mughal, Justice (retd) Rashid Ahmed Jallindhry, Dr Faiz Bilqees and Dr A.R. Kamal.