Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) Chairperson Tahir Ashrafi has said the elements that used to call for banning girls’ education had no connection to Islam like critics who have opposed to the Punjab Protection of Women against Violence Act 2016
“These people are speaking in ignorance, but the women protection bill will assist in ending violence against women,” Ashrafi said. “There is no point in the criticism by some scholars that this bill will distort the family system of the country”.
Ashrafi said that since it was established, PUC has been making endeavours and raising its voice for women’s rights. PUC is also one of the few religious councils that did not protest the execution of Mumtaz Qadri.
On the day of the execution, Ashrafi said the “execution of Mumtaz Qadri was the implementation on laws of the state”, and it was the government’s responsibility to ensure the protection of its citizens and make sure the laws of the state are implemented.
He said that civilised society would be turned into ashes if killing and warfare was allowed on the grounds of emotion and affiliations.
Addressing women seminary students, the PUC chairperson said: “Islam does not allow men to resort to violence against women, and the teaching of Islam witness to the fact that Islam orders punishments for men who resort to torture against their daughters, wives and women of their homes.”