PESHAWAR, Nov 21: The NWFP chapter of Labour Party Pakistan staged protest here on Tuesday against the passage of Hasba Bill by the NWFP Assembly.

Led by Farooq Ahmed, party’s provincial general secretary, the demonstrators gathered outside the Peshawar Press Club. They were holding banners and placards inscribed with slogans such as ‘No to Hasba Bill’.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Ahmed said the Hasba Bill was nothing but a Maulvi martial law. “It is a plot to divert people’s attention from real issues like unemployment, price hike and deteriorating law and order situation in the province,” he said.

The protesters said that they would not accept the bill at all. They also criticised the passage of the Protection of Women’s Rights bill and said that they wanted a complete end to discriminatory laws against women.

They said the people’s problems could only be solved with the eradication of feudalism from the country.

Later, the protesters dispersed peacefully.