ISLAMABAD, May 19: The Pakistan Muslim League (PML) will soon make its recommendation whether to repeal or amend the Hudood Ordinance, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Women Development Nilofar Bakhtiar said here on Thursday. She was talking to mediapersons after attending a meeting of PML women parliamentarians and office-bearers, held under the chairmanship of Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain.

It might take some time, but with widespread consultations a practicable solution to the issue of the Hudood Ordinance would be found, she said.

Referring to the recommendations made by the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW), a statutory body, she said the party would also discuss the commission’s observations in detail.

The NCSW has recommended repeal of the controversial law.

The commission was constituted in 2001 through a presidential ordinance with a mandate to review discriminatory laws and make proposals for emancipation of women in the country.

“Though the commission has recommended to repeal the laws, but we want to discuss these recommendations in detail,” Ms Nilofar said.

When asked if the PML would take the NCSW recommendations to parliament for an open discussion, she said initially these would be discussed at the party level and then in parliament.

She said the bill on honour killings had been discussed with all political parties before it was sent to the parliament for legislation.

According to a press release issued by the PML secretariat, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain said at the meeting the PML always stood for women’s welfare.

“Women have been given representation in local governments and provincial and national assemblies. They are working as provincial and federal ministers,” he said.

He said the PML also had created a separate wing for women at all levels to enable them to play an effective role in national development.

He said women should play their positive role in all spheres of life without being influenced by foreign propaganda.