KARACHI, March 5: Jamaat-ud-Dawa Pakistan has rejected the Women’s Protection Bill and demanded its immediate repeal. Addressing a news conference at the Karachi Press Club on Monday, Jamaat-ud-Dawa central leader Professor Abdur Rahman Makki, along with leaders of religious parties, declared to launch a movement for the establishment of Shariah-based laws and society. They resolved to oppose the bill despite its passage by the parliament and said this was tantamount to tarnishing Islamic character of the country.

Prof Abdur Rahman alleged that a malicious campaign was launched against Hudood Ordinance at the behest of and with the financial support of distant benefactors to get the bill passed.

He said Jamaat-ud-Dawa had launched a signature drive for soliciting public support against the bill. He said the campaign received a great response from different sections of society and as such under the democratic norms and traditions such legislation should urgently be withdrawn or reviewed respecting the public opinion.

Prof Makki said results of the countrywide signature campaign would be tabled in the federal and provincial legislatures through the like-minded political forces to prove overwhelming public opposition to the bill.

MMA leader Nasrullah Shajji said the rulers tried to get the Women Protection Bill passed in a hurried and undemocratic fashion despite opposition.

MMA’s member of National Assembly Hameedullah Khan said instead of conceiving and proposing the bill to serve the anti-Islamic agenda of the imperialist and Western forces the government should have introduced effective legislations and laws against certain exploitative traditions and customs in society causing harm to women’s interests.