PESHAWAR, Aug 26: Speakers at a seminar here on Tuesday criticized the proposed Hasba Bill, terming it unconstitutional and illegal.

They said that the bill was intended to establish a parallel judiciary and government within a government and asked the MMA government to concentrate on resolving problems of the masses instead of wasting time on non-issues.

Provincial Amir of Jamaat-i-Islami and member of the Nifaz-i- Shariat Council Professor Mohammad Ibrahim was the only speaker to defend the proposed legislation.

He brushed aside criticism of the bill saying it was only a draft proposal and all apprehensions and debate were premature.

The seminar organized by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) in collaboration with Peshawar press club on the Hasba Bill was attended by activists of various civil society organizations, intellectuals, writers, political activists and elected councillors of the district and tehsil councils.

Women made themselves conspicuous by attending the seminar in large numbers.

Defending the Hasba Bill, Prof Ibrahim said that people were not getting quick remedy for their problems which were pending in courts of law. He said if Mohtasibs’ office was established, people would get their problems resolved in no time.

He dispelled the impression that the Hasba force would operate like the Taliban, saying that the force would be drawn from the police and the Frontier Constabulary.

He said that arbitration committees would be established at the police station level to resolve local disputes.

ANP’s central leader Haji Mohammad Adeel criticized the MMA government for failing to implement its own unanimous resolutions regarding withdrawal of property tax and setting up education, economic and judicial commissions in line with the Shariat Act adopted by the NWFP Assembly.

He said that the Hasba Bill was an important legislation which should have been publicly debated. However, he regretted that the government treated the bill in utmost secrecy to avoid public debate.

He said the proposed bill was in violation of basic human rights as a person whose educational qualifications were not known would be appointed as Mohtasib to deal with all government institutions.

Mohtasib’s verdict, he said, would not be challenged even in any court of law and the federal Shariat Court. Terming it a joke played on people, Mr Adeel remarked that it would be a martial law of the Maulvis.

The Hasba Force, he said, could raid offices and houses even on a mere suspicion and could interfere in private matters.  

Islamic scholar and well-known intellectual Dr Farooq in  his well-prepared speech said that the government had no right to interfere in the private lives of its people.

The government could persuade people to adopt good deeds but it could not dictate them not to listen to music, wear a particular dress and observe purdah, he said.

He asked the MMA leaders to present themselves as an example so that people could follow them as role models.