The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has welcomed the passage of the Protection of Women against Violence Bill 2015 by the Punjab Assembly and expressed the hope its efficient enforcement would help protect women from violence and ensure the culprits do not escape justice. In a statement released to the media on Thursday, the commission said, “HRCP welcomes the adoption of the Protection of Women against Violence Bill 2015 by the Punjab Assembly on Wednesday as a good first step.” It said, “The bill appears to be a rather comprehensive attempt to institute a system for prevention of violence against women and for protection and rehabilitation of the women victims. And for that the members introducing and supporting this bill deserve praise for doing right by the women in the province.”

“The bill includes a broad definition of violence, steps to make complaint submissions easier, establishment of committees at the district level to investigate complaints, and shelter homes for the protection of aggrieved women. These are all much-needed measures that deserve praise but it is important to remember that cosmetic and purely procedural changes have not had an impact in the past. The change in law would only make a difference if there is effective enforcement and the legislature continues to engage with the issue and ensures oversight,” the HRCP further said. (Source: http://www.pakistantoday.com)

Comment:

Pakistan has been facing innumerable problems at the hands of Capitalism, Democracy due to a corrupt ruling mafia under the patronage of these systems. Violence against women is only a part of the bigger problem that stems out of ignorance, non-implementation of the Islamic system and values in the society and the rotten, lengthy and futile legal system that is a leftover of Britain. While looking at incidents of violence against women and of their harassment, one can’t ignore vast categories of violence and injustice against the poor majority of men, women and children alike, by the elite feudal lords, businessmen and police. People have been left to suffer at the mercy of a few rich and powerful minority of the ruling elite; as according to the norms of Capitalism after all, it is all about might is right. In these circumstances how can we expect this bill of protection of women as anything but a sham or worthless scam by government to attract the attention of its masters in the West and to please them. While women will have to go through the same police system where their honor and dignity is even more at risk and the same old judicial system which works at the principal of delayed and expensive justice for the poor majority of the country. This bill is another attempt by the Democratic government of Pakistan to pose themselves as the great champions of women rights according to the blind dictation of the Western powers, while the women in Pakistan suffer more at the hands of poverty, hunger and lawlessness due to the current system.

Protection of women can only be secured through a complete and comprehensive change of system; and by implementation of a system that replaces the current judicial and legal system altogether with a speedy, just and free justice system that will ensure the provision of justice to everyone without discrimination of status, caste, creed or gender. Women can only be protected by the implementation of such a social system that secures the financial rights and family rights of women, regarding them as human beings having intellect as opposed to Capitalism where they are regarded as sexual objects to gratify the sensuous needs of men. We need a system that will respect and honor women and cherish them as mothers, sisters, daughters and wives and give them full opportunity to excel in their professional fields along with fulfilling their basic duties as home makers. Such a system can only be bestowed to us by Allah سبحانه وتعالى i.e. Khilafah (Caliphate) upon the method of the Prophethood, that has produced for centuries the most secure and conducive environment for women to prosper and excel in every field of life from medicine to fiqh and from chemistry to history. Allah سبحانه وتعالى says:

مَنْ عَمِلَ صَالِحاً مِنْ ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَى وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَلَنُحْيِيَنَّهُ حَيَاةً طَيِّبَةً وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْرَهُمْ بِأَحْسَنِ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ
“Whoever works righteousness – whether male or a female – while he (or she) is a true believer, verily, to him (her) We will give a good life (in this world), and We shall pay them certainly a reward (in Hereafter) in proportion to the best of what they used to do.”
(An-Nahl: 97)

Ammara Tahir