Opposition also cooperated on ‘Women Protection Bill’, says PM
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister ShaukatAziz on Thursday said the women protection bill was the outcome of extensive consultation with all stakeholders including eminent religious scholars and would help remove injustices against the women.
"We are bringing in a series of legislation aimed at empowering the women and giving them their due rights and honour according to Islam," Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz told a gathering of women belonging to different walks of life here at the PM Secretariat.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said under Article 227of the Constitution no law repugnant to the teachings of the Holy Quran and Sunnah could be enacted in the country.
"There should be no doubt that the government or the people of this country will do otherwise," the Prime Minister added.
He referred to the laws relating to inheritance, divorce and marriage and said President Pakistan Muslim League Ch. Shujaat Hussain has submitted a draft bill to the National Assembly Secretariat to bring about necessary changes and to remove discrimination against the women.
Aziz vowed to do more to empower and give due rights to the women, which he added will also strengthen Islam and Pakistan.
He said the government has removed all lacunas in the women protection bill to ensure that it cannot be used against the women.
Prime Minister Aziz said the legislation coincided with the completion of four years of the National Assembly and said it will be the first one to complete its term.
"We are proud to have done something significant for our women. This is the first step and many more measures will follow," he added.
Aziz said there was not even a single vote against the bill that reflected that everyone knew in the heart that they cannot support something that goes against the women.
The Prime Minister lauded the role of President General Pervez Musharraf for the successful passage of the bill and said he worked hard to make the dream come true for millions of women.
Pointing at the role of women in all spheres of society, the Prime Minister said, today the women were working shoulder to shoulder to defend their country.
"Today we have women fighter pilots and I feel proud to see our young girls enter the Pakistan Military Academy for the first time."
He also appreciated the women for the unflinching struggle for their rights that yielded the result.
He said the government has raised the quota of women in the federal government to 10 per cent and there was a lot of space for more to join.
Minister for Women Development Sumaira Malik said there was lot of protection for the women in Islam and it gave them their due rights, dignity and respect.
She said the passage of the bill was a success of the moderate voices in the national assembly and said it would further strengthen country's political institutions. Ms Malik was appreciative of the positive role of media in creating awareness among the masses.
She said the government was committed to empower the women and appreciated President General Pervez Musharraf for his support to the women causes.
Minister of State for Health Shahnaz Sheikh said the passage of the bill was historic and said more was being done to strengthen the country.
She said new vacancies for nurses, lady health visitors have been created while their allowances have been increased.
