LAHORE – The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on Saturday expressed concerns at the Federal Shariat Court’s (FSC) decision that seeks reversal of several provisions of the Women’s Protection Act 2006.
The non-governmental organisation (NGO) said that it would issue a detailed comment on implications of the FSC’s decision later but was “alarmed that the verdict seeks reversion to provisions of the 1979 Hudood Ordinance which were highly discriminatory to the rights of women”.
The HRCP considered the decision a setback to efforts for ensuring equal protection of law for women. Serious concerns emanate from the fact that the FSC’s decision seeks to undermine the legislative authority of parliament, encroaches upon its power to translate people’s demands into laws and subverts the functioning and authority of the mainstream judiciary, the HRCP said.
The NGO said that the verdict provided a decisive argument for abolition of the FSC. The commission said that it was distressing that December 22 would be remembered mainly for the disappointing FSC decision and not for appointment of the country’s first woman ombudsperson to hear complaints of sexual harassment.
The HRCP urged the government and civil society to challenge the FSC’s decision.
