On February 29, 2016 the Punjab Assembly signed into law the Women’s Protection Bill. The Bill mainly molded the law so as to allow women in abusive relationships to receive speedier justice. The law also allowed for a hotline to be set up, making it easier for women to lodge complaints and get help.
Social Media, in particular Twitter, went abuzz with this news.
Especially considering that Sharmeen Obaid had won her second Oscar and Mumtaz Qadri was hanged, the news of the passing of Women’s Protection Bill in Punjab, the most populous province of Pakistan, was especially hailed by most sections of the social media.
https://twitter.com/rehman_azhar/status/704402895215706112
https://twitter.com/mariasaleem101/status/704168069707505664
It however didn’t take too long for the bubble to burst
Mullah heart attack begins #AGirlInTheRiver #WomenProtectionBill won
— Syed Faraz Darvesh (@FarazDarvesh) February 29, 2016
And the “other side” spoke out, as well
https://twitter.com/shahrukhwani/status/704243531678949376
According to Maulana Fazlur Rehman, this law not is in accordance to Sharia and he made it his personal mission to “not let Pakistan become a secular state”. He, of course, was not alone in this.
A total of 35 parties have openly denounced the law and started pressurizing the government to amend it, or better yet, repeal it.
On March 14, the Chief Minister of Punjab formed a committee to go over the law with the ulema, with Rana SanaUllah at its head. The Government seemed pressurized and people started to worry about the future of this law.
Hope PPP, PTI & PMLQ with their 48 seats will stand with PMLN to ensure #WomenProtectionBill is not amended under pressure from clergy
— M. Jibran Nasir 🇵🇸 (@MJibranNasir) March 15, 2016
Every day in #Punjab 10 women are raped, 8 murdered & 32 abducted. Religious leaders are concernd men wearin bracelets #WomenProtectionBill
— Daniyal Hassan (@DaniyalHassan_) March 7, 2016
Asma Jahangir beautifully summed up the happenings of the day in this tweet
A grand alliance of all pious men to protect the rights of wife beaters. Is it a holy or an unholy alliance ?
— AGHS Legal Aid Cell, Asma Jahangir's Law Firm (@Asma_Jahangir) March 15, 2016
Clearly no one was too excited about this council and the outcomes were expected to be rather sinister.
However, yesterday the Government of the Punjab very publicly raised concerns against the public denouncement of the law by the ulema
Women Protection Bill: Despite a hoopla by opposition against women protection bill, nothing specific has been communicated by them thus far
— Punjab 2013-18 (@Punjab13to18) March 16, 2016
Government of Punjab hasn't received any amendments or suggestions by Ulemas and only sweeping statements are being made agnst Women's bill.
— Punjab 2013-18 (@Punjab13to18) March 16, 2016
Ulemas stand united against Women Protection bill. If only they could stand united for greater cause.
— Punjab 2013-18 (@Punjab13to18) March 16, 2016
Ooh, the burns.
No statement has been given by either Fazlur Rehman or Siraj Ul Haq, the two most vocal opponents of this bill on this response
To further elaborate: Law minister Punjab did hold meetings with ulema and they clearly mentioned that it's not against Islam at all.
— Punjab 2013-18 (@Punjab13to18) March 16, 2016
There are reports that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa legislature is also preparing a similar bill but let’s hope other provinces do follow suit because it is high time women are protected from the extremely vulnerable positions that they are in, in our society.
Kudos to the Government of Punjab for taking this bold step and sticking to their stance, tussi great ho(sometimes).
Cover Image: urgentactionfund.org
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