LAHORE – The Women Action Forum (WAF) on Wednesday expressed shock and outrage at the way the Punjab government has succumbed to pressure from the some religious groups and put the Women Protection Bill on hold.
“The reaction of the religious parties is not surprising as the Jamaat-i-Islami and some other parties of the religious right have always played a political strategy that ‘Islam is in danger’ card to gain public visibility,” the forum said in a statement issued here.
“What is shocking and unacceptable is the elected government’s response to this blackmail,” the statement said. WAF reminds the Punjab government that Domestic Violence Bills have already been passed by the Sindh and Balochistan assemblies without any backlash from the religious groups.
“Is this knuckling under to the religious lobby due to the fact that the Punjab government, notwithstanding its public stance, is unsure or of its own position and insincere about its commitment to women’s rights,” the forum questioned. In its March 8 statement, the forum had welcomed the Women’s Protection Bill as a step in the right direction, while stating that the bill itself needs strengthening in line with similar bills passed by the Sindh and Balochistan assemblies.
WAF demands that any amendments to the bill must make it more effective in providing protection to women, rather than diluting the effect of the act. As such amendments should be made in consultation with women, who across class are the most vulnerable to domestic violence and not under pressure from a lobby that has consistently promoted its own political agendas by misusing religion to endanger women and undermine their position and status in the society.
The WAF will not accept any backtracking or dilution of the Women’s Protection Bill and demands that the Punjab government not only ensures the passage of the bill but also makes it more effective by criminalising violence and ensuring its commencement province wise and not in its current piece meal form.
