Opinion
 
Domestic Violence Bill, JUI-F Opposition leads to another deadlock
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April 13, 2012
A landmark bill seeking to deter all forms of domestic violence against women has reached a serious deadlock following heavy resistance by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F). Claiming the bill undermines Islamic values, the party announced it would fight “tooth and nail” against it.

Strong resistance by opposition parties, including Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), had forced the Government on April 4 to defer another bill, introduced in 2009, which sought heavy jail terms for those involved in violence against women.

“We cannot adopt a bill which a ditto copy of a bill on women,” observed JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman, when lawmakers under the leadership of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) senior leader Syed Khurshid Shah, met to develop consensus on the issue.

Fazl claimed the bill promotes western culture and values rather than Islamic ones. “NGOs continue to promote the culture which keeps women away from Islam and that is not acceptable to us.”

The JUI-F Chief termed it an effort to destroy the dignity of women in Islam and urged followers to stand united against those who wanted to impose Western culture in Pakistan.

“We know women’s rights better than the PPP… Western culture cannot be promoted under the pretext of protection in Islamic states,” maintained the JUI-F Chief.

The lawmakers across party lines failed to evolve any consensus to amend a controversial clause of the aforementioned bill passed by the National Assembly in 2009. Since the bill was not adopted by the Senate in 90 days, rules stipulate it can only be passed in a joint sitting of the Parliament.

PPP MNA Yasmeen Rehman had tabled the bill earlier stressing the institutionalisation of measures required to protect women and children from domestic violence.

Despite the PPP Senior Minister’s efforts, the opposition could not be convinced into contributing positive suggestions so that the bill could be tabled once again before the joint sitting next week.

PML-N, the top opposition party in the National Assembly, also dragged its feet over the bill when MNA Khawaja Saad Rafiq implied that external forces had stakes in the passage of its controversial clauses. He refrained from explaining his thoughts further.

The Government has long wanted to move the overdue Domestic Violence Bill, 2009. The opposition however maintains that the bill cannot be passed by the Parliament until further amendments are made to its clauses.

The lawmakers will now hold a meeting over the issue on Monday.

Friday also witnessed opposing protest rallies outside the Parliament by both human rights activists and Islamic parties. Rights activists chanted slogans in favour of the passage of the bill while religious activists raised slogans opposing it. Harsh words were traded by both sides during the demonstrations as they also raised slogans against each other. The protesters were eventually dispersed by the local police.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly earlier passed 'Enforcement of Women Ownership Rights Bill' to ensure provision of rights to the women in the inherited property.

Pakistan People's Party lawmaker Noor Sahar had tabled the bill, which was passed by the house unanimously with Deputy Speaker Khushdil Khan in the chair. "Women being the weaker segment of the society were deprived of their legal and Shariah rights of ownership and possession in the property. This practice needs to be curbed," read the bill.

The draft document envisages the provision of inherited rights to women in both moveable and immoveable property, which is devolved upon and vested in woman by way of inheritance, gift, purchase, 'mehr' or acquired by her by way of any other legal and Shariah means.

The bill suggested bar on depriving women of ownership right. It said: "No person shall violate, curtail or obstruct the right of ownership or possession of women in the inherited property." The bill also proposed punishment with imprisonment of a term not exceeding five years and a fine not exceeding Rs50,000.

Pakistani women are “bold” and “courageous” and have created better opportunities for themselves in politics as well as financial field, inspiring their counterparts across the border.

“Women in my country seek inspiration from them” said Pakistani award winning rights advocate Shad Begum.

Pakistani women created better opportunities for themselves and came good in economic activities, Ms. Shad said after receiving the 2012 International Woman of Courage award from U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the presence of the First Lady Michelle Obama.

Ms. Shad, who runs a non-governmental organisation in Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa province of Pakistan, said she dedicated her award to the women of South Asia.

Women in Pakistan , she said, have better opportunities, in her country, Ms. Shad said: “Women are still struggling for that. We even had a woman Prime Minister, but this does not mean that we have all the basic rights including the right to say, right to choose and right to associate.

Born in 1978, Shad Begum started her work at an early age after matriculation. She got a master’s degree in Urdu from the University of Malakand and is currently doing an MBA at the University of Peshawar.

Jan Mohammad, Shad Begum’s husband, says his wife is part of a lineage of service. “There was a tradition of social work in our family, and Shad Begum carried on that tradition.

“In 1992, he founded Idara Khidmat-e-Khalq (IKK) for welfare and development in Talash; however, he also wanted to do something for women in the area and this was not possible through an all-male organisation,” Jan said.

Thus ABKT was set up. Initially, it worked on health, education and micro-finance facilities for women. Over the years it extended its operations to reconstruction, relief and rehabilitation.

The organisation currently operates in about 12 districts in the province, but, according to Jan, Upper and Lower Dir, Shangla and Swat constitute its core areas.

Jan said that ABKT’s basic aim was to work on women and family issues, as they could not be addressed through other organisations given the area’s cultural sensitivities. In 2008, the organisation came to Peshawar due to the insurgency in Malakand, and its name was also changed to Association for Behaviour & Knowledge Transformation.

Shad Begum had the full support of her family throughout this period. “Her father motivated her, brothers supported her and I also support her work, and she never had problems with her family,” Jan said.

However, Jan acknowledged that there had been some issues. This perhaps led to his wife contesting the district councillor’s election for the area on a Jamaat-e-Islami seat. “It means her work was acceptable to religious elements of the area,” Jan said.

Fayyaz Mohammad, programme manager at ABKT, did admit that the organisation faced difficulties in the area from time to time.

Not surprisingly, few politicians have ever heard of Shad. A PPP politician from Malakand claimed that he knew Shad Bibi. “She was a councilor in the region. Zeb, however, called upon women to follow in Shad Bibi’s footsteps while “observing the Islamic dress code”.

About the award, Jan said the family were delighted, but would have been happier if she had been recognised in her own country.

Shad Mohammad, her brother, was of the view that the honour was an acknowledgment for her work and role among the people of Malakand. He added that the work his sister embarked upon was previously unheard of in the area, as most women become teachers.

Shad Begum is a brave, talented and visionary woman who has done a lot for the welfare of women in the area.

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