‘Pakistan’s law on domestic violence will increase divorces’
August 25th, 2009 - 6:15 pm ICT by IANSIslamabad, Aug 25 (IANS) Pakistan’s just-enacted law against domestic violence will increase family feuds and divorces and could also result in old, weak and indisposed men being made to suffer, says the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII).
Saying that the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Bill that parliament passed earlier this month was ambiguous and contained few reforms, the council held that the bill assumed only women and children could be victims of domestic violence, ignoring the possibility of old, weak and indisposed men also suffering.
“This is also against the cardinal principle that everyone is equal before the law and must be treated on a par.” the council said in a statement, lamenting that it was not consulted before bringing the law.
The council, a constitutional body that advises the legislature on whether or not a certain law is repugnant to Islam, was also upset over the police being given a greater role in family affairs.
This would encourage corruption and bribery and give the police the right to trample on the sanctity of the home.
The National Assembly, the lower house of Pakistan’s parliament, Aug 3 unanimously passed a bill against domestic violence to protect women, children and families vulnerable to crimes at home.
Moving the bill, Yasmeen Rehman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) that leads the federal coalition stressed on the need to institutionalise measures to prevent and protect women and children from domestic violence.
Under the bill, protection committees comprising police officers have been suggested at the sub-district level to assist aggrieved people and relocate them if necessary for their protection.
The protection committees would not only create awareness among women about their rights but would also provide legal protection and medical aid.
The bill provides that a court, at any stage of hearing, may direct the accused to pay monetary relief to meet the expenses incurred and losses suffered by the aggrieved person, including loss of earning, medical expenses and maintenance of aggrieved women and their children.
Under the bill, repeat offenders can be jailed for a year and fined Rs.200,000.
If a woman registers a false case or if it is proved wrong in court, the complainant can be jailed for six months and fined Rs.50,000.
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Tags: cardinal principle, committees, constitutional body, corruption and bribery, crimes, domestic violence prevention, family affairs, family feuds, federal coalition, islamic ideology, medical aid, monetary relief, national assembly, pakistan peoples party, parliament, police officers, ppp, rehman, sanctity, victims of domestic violence