ISLAMABAD, July 1: President Gen Pervez Musharraf has directed the Council of Islamic Ideology to draft an amendment to the Hudood Ordinance with a consensus, stressing that the amendment should be compatible with Islamic law and values.

“The Hudood Ordinance was authored by one man and it can be changed. However, it should not be abused,” he said at a high level meeting held at his camp office in Rawalpindi on Saturday.

The president, on the recommendation of the ministry of women development, issued an order for immediate release of the women prisoners involved in crimes other than murder, robbery and terrorism.

The meeting reviewed the matters related to the amendments, law reforms package and grant of relief to women prisoners.

The president asked the CII to take along all the schools of thought while preparing the amendment and directed the law ministry to finalize the legal process for the release of women prisoners till Monday.

The president will promulgate an ordinance in this regard, which will come to effect immediately.

He also issued directives to annul discriminatory laws against women and urged the government to go for comprehensive and effective legislation in this connection.

He reiterated that the government believed in provision of inexpensive and speedy justice to the people and directed the law ministry to promptly take steps in this respect.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz told the meeting that the government was working to integrate women into national mainstream and curb the practice of outdated and archaic customs.

Law minister Wasi Zafar, Minister for Women Development Sumaira Malik, Minister for Religious Affairs Ejazul Haq, CII Chairman Khalid Masood, Senior Adviser to the President Sharifuddin Pirzada, Attorney-General Makhdoom Ali Khan, Pakistan Muslim League President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Secretary-General Mushahid Hussain and others attended the meeting.—Online