‘Pak women protection law against Constitution’

Pakistan’s top Islamic body on Wednesday said the women protection law, introduced by the Punjab government, was against the Constitution and two-nation theory. The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) said the law was against the Islamic teachings. A meeting of the CII headed by chairman Maulana Mohammed Khan Sheerani took place here to review matters pertaining to formation of Quran board, elimination of interest and use of dead bodies for scientific research.

The women protection law was also discussed during the meeting. Members of the council stated that this law was against the Constitution and two-nation theory — referring to the partition of 1947.

The CII will present its recommendations after reviewing the issue in detail in the next session. Sources said the CII has also decided to seek a copy of the law from the Punjab Assembly.

Legislators last Wednesday gave unprecedented protection to female victims of violence, in a bid to stem a rising tide of gender-related abuse in a country, ranked as the world’s third most dangerous place for women.

The new law criminalises all forms of violence against women, whether domestic, psychological or sexual.