KARACHI, Jan 13: City Nazim Naimatullah Khan has said that using the freedom of expression, people are speaking against Hudood laws, which were formulated under the light of Quran and Sunnah.

He was speaking at a seminar on "Hudood Ordinance: Doubts, apprehensions and their removal", organized by the Women Commission Sindh and the Islamic Research Academy on Tuesday.

The Nazim said that Hudood laws could not be repealed because they were enforced as per commandments of God, as enshrined in Quran and Sunnah. He said that Quranic laws were final and no changes could be made in them.

Mr Khan observed that Pakistani society was an exemplary society, where the women had full protection and freedom. He said that women were in favour of enforcing Islamic laws in the country.

Justice Ghous Mohammed said that all laws of Quran and Sunnah would have to be enforced, if Pakistan kept its status of an Islamic state. He said some NGOs hatched unnecessary propaganda against Islamic laws, which created doubts among people.

He said that an arrested woman could be released on personal surety. He denied the impression that women were being victimized and suppressed through Hudood laws, and said most of the cases under Hudood Ordinance were established against males.

MNA Raheel Qazi said the religious parties' alliance had conveyed it to Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain that there must be no change in Islamic provisions of 1973 Constitution. He vowed that the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal would not allow any change in Hudood Ordinance.

He said that the system in Pakistan could not be improved and problems would continue to trouble society until the feudal system remained in the country. Expressing her views on the issue, Afya Sarwer said that there were no flaws in Hudood laws, but in their implementation. She said that the injustices meted out to women in rural areas were not due to Hudood Ordinance, but due to feudal system. She said that the Hudood laws provide complete protection to women and these could not be changed or repealed.

Justice (retd) Shafi Muhammadi said that it was written in the Constitution that every law would be in conformity with Islamic teachings. He said that some non-governmental organizations were launching a propaganda campaign against Hudood Ordinance. -PPI