Islamabad: Pakistani women activists deplored
yesterday a government decision to give in to
religious conservatives opposed to the amendment
of Islamic laws dealing with rape and adultery.
The laws, which make a rape victim liable for
prosecution for adultery if she cannot produce
four male witnesses, were introduced in 1979 by
military ruler Mohammad Zia-ul-Haq and have drawn
widespread criticism both at home and abroad.
Human rights campaigners have long pressed for
the repeal of the laws, known as the Hudood
Ordinances, but nevertheless welcomed government
efforts to amend them, including taking rape out
of the sphere of religious law.
Threat
But an opposition alliance of religious parties
objected to the changes, saying they were a
danger to society, and threatened to withdraw
from the national and provincial parliaments if
they were passed.
In the face of the protests, the government said
on Monday it was accepting three of the
conservatives’ demands, including one keeping
rape under the Islamic law, although it will also
be a crime under the penal code.
Adultery
The government also accepted adultery being made
a crime under the penal code, subject to up to
five years in prison.
Rights activists said the concessions would water
down the impact of the changes and would be
confusing, with rape and adultery being crimes
under both Islamic law and the penal code.
Asma Jahangir, chairwoman of the Human Rights
Commission of Pakistan, said: "Last night was the
nail in the coffin.“”They have hoodwinked women into believing that
this is a law for the protection of women. It is
a law for the protection of religious
extremists," she said.