|
Pak Islamic alliance vows to maintain religious laws
The leader of the hardline Islamic alliance vowed yesterday to resist any attempt by President Pervez Musharraf to amend Islamic laws that rights groups say discriminate against women and non-Muslims. One of the most controversial provisions of the so-called Hudood Ordinance states that a woman must have four pious male Muslim witnesses to prove a rape, or face adultery charges. Those convicted of adultery face stoning to death or 100 lashes. Musharraf told a human rights convention on Saturday that the laws passed under the military dictatorship of late General Mohammad Zia-ul-Haq in 1979 should be studied afresh to ensure they were not misused. Fazlur-Rehman, secretary-general of the opposition Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal Islamic alliance, charged that Musharrafâs statement on the Hudood Ordinances and laws relating to blasphemy were the result of American and Western pressure. âWe will not allow the American agenda to be imposed on 140 million Muslims,â he told a news conference. âIslamic Laws will be protected with full force and in this connection everything will be done to resist the ideology of secularism.â Secular political parties, civil rights and womenâs groups say rape and other violent crimes against women have soared since the passage of Hudood laws. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan says the incidence of rape could be higher than the one every two hours reported in the local media. But successive governments have failed to change the laws because of stiff opposition from Islamist groups. Musharraf said the countryâs blasphemy law should also be reviewed. Meanhwile, rights groups in Pakistan yesterday gave mixed response to calls by Musharraf to review Islamic laws. "It is a good and positive move by the president," Naeem Mirza, director of private women rights group Aurat Foundation, said. The private Human Rights Commission, which has long campaigned against the blasphemy laws, was cautious as to whether they could ever be repealed. "There have been discussion on blasphemy laws in the past but the government withdrew after...bowing to pressures from relgious leaders," legal officer Mehboob Ahmed Khan said. "Letâs wait and see how serious is the government this time. Hudood laws negate the rights of women and must be repealed." Posted by: TS(vice girl) 2004-05-18 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=33281 |