ISLAMABAD, Oct 15: The National Commission on Status of Women (NCSW) has recommended the repeal of Hudood Ordinance as being anti-women because any law that permits injustice to any person or section of society cannot be Islamic.

This was stated by the NCSW chairperson, Justice Majida Rizvi, while speaking at a seminar, organized by Sungi to observe the world day for rural women here on Wednesday.

Justice Rizvi said it was not a question of policies and laws alone but at the root of maltreatment of women was the feudalism. Often, the police is involved in crimes against women, she alleged.

She said honour killing was a crime but the justice was prevented from taking its course owing to the intervention of the local influentials. “Pakistan is an Islamic state, we all are Muslims, and yet such things continue to happen with impunity,” she remarked.

Referring to the grievances of the women councillors, Justice Rizvi said the argument given by the male councilors was that the Local Government Ordinance did not mention women councilors. For that matter, she argued, they did not acknowledge male councillors too, because the world “Councillor” included female as well as male members of the local councils.

She advised the women councilors to remain steadfast in pursuing their goals. “It would be an inch-by-inch march, but they would eventually succeed if they remained determined and united in defence of their rights.” Recounting a number of cases where women were subjected to violence, she added that the urban areas too were not immune from such perpetrations.

The NCSW chairperson said the commission had recommended the enactment of law for the rehabilitation and succour of divorced women. In Pakistan, she noted, such individuals suffered double jeopardy because, in addition to divorce, they were deprived of their rights in respect of the home, which she had helped build. The head of the National Rural Support Programme (NRSP), Shoaib Sultan, observed that in terms of the status and rights of women, Pakistan lagged behind all the other countries of South Asia. He recalled a saying of late Akhtar Hamid Khan that Pakistan would remain backward so long as it did not give due recognition to the capabilities of 50% of Pakistan constituted by women.

He said women would not win recognition of their immense potential unless they raised their voice, irrespective of odds.

Ms Narjis Bibi, a lady councillor from Haripur district, said 33 per cent representation given to women in local councils was so far meaningless because the law was silent on their rights and functions. The women representatives were rarely involved in decision-making, which the males deemed their exclusive domain.

Ms Samina Khan, the executive director of Sungi, said the world day for rural women was being observed on the call of Women’s World Summit Foundation, Geneva. The theme of the 10th day was “Towards Greater Access to Land and Water”.

Syed Arshad Rizvi said no formal qualification was required if one was determined to improve his/her lot through self-help.

On the occasion, Justice Majida Rizvi gave away awards of the Women’s World Summit Foundation, Geneva to Ms Shamim Ara and Ms Khalida Bibi, two women social activists from the villages of Haripur district.