PESHAWAR, July 13: The All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA) on Wednesday held a protest demonstration against the controversial Hasba bill tabled by the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal government. The alliance’s central leaders Pervaiz Rafique and Naveed Amir expressed their concern at the bill tabled in the NWFP Assembly on Monday and termed it ‘unconstitutional’ and ‘discriminatory against minorities’.

They held the demo in front of the NWFP Assembly with women and children chained, symbolizing what they thought would be the scenario after the enactment of the Hasba Law.

They said that minorities and other weaker sections of society would be victimized once the bill was passed into a law.

The demonstrators rejected the bill as ‘undemocratic’ which they said would pave the way for the Talibanization of the province.

The APMA appealed to Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to play his role to stop the enactment of the Hasba bill.

They said that the enactment of the law would divide people on the basis of religion.

They feared that the MMA government would use the Hasba force or police to victimize women, minorities and political opponents.

The protesters said they felt insecure and marginalized due to “such dreadful and black laws”.

“The Hasba bill is against the spirit of justice. Besides, the establishment of Hasba institution will also be a burden on the national exchequer.”

The demonstrators demanded that the president and prime minister of Pakistan intervene and stop enactment of this law in the province.