Lawmakers from the Punjab Assembly on Friday strongly criticied Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman for calling them “zanmurids” an Urdu language term for uxorious husbands.
The lawmakers asked Maulana Fazl, through a privilege motion, to tender an apology for his derogatory remarks.
The JUI-F chief had used the term, while responding to questions regarding Protection of Women against Violence Act, unanimously passed by the provincial assembly on Wednesday.
The new bill will make all crimes against women an offence, including domestic violence, emotional, psychological and economic abuse, verbal abuse, stalking, abetment of an offence, and cyber crimes.
According to the new law, a toll-free number (UAN) will also be introduced to receive complaints while a district protection committee will be setup to investigate women’s complaints.
Fazl is the first politician to openly criticize the bill.
Punjab’s new bill drew severe criticism from clerics and one called it contrary to the teachings of the holy Quran and Sunnah.
