From Eteraz:

This is a call for action, read on for details.

I am sitting in a half empty taxi stand where the owner has let me use the computer for free because I have some urgent breaking news on the Women’s Protection Bill. Popes and Mullahs keep fighting.

So the “compromised” bill (which I called a Minimalist victory), did not get sent to the Parliament. It got sent BACK to the select committee (for MORE review). Mostly this is because Musharraf’s backers complained about the Mullahs to the General. (There is some good in having a General on your side). Now, sources tell me, nothing will happen on the bill until Big Brother comes back on October 1.

This means that the FULL REFORMIST VERSION OF THE BILL STILL HAS HOPE.

So the current plan is to get as many liberal people (in Pakistan and outside) to sign off on a simple petition, which will read:

We believe that you should support the passage of the Women’s Protection Act in the form proposed by the Select Committee of Parliament. The passage of that bill would be a significant step forwards in the protection of women’s rights in Pakistan and an achievement for which you would always be remembered.

PLEASE UNDERSTAND, sources tell me, that the BATTLE IS NOT IN PARLIAMENT ANYMORE – IT IS IN MUSHARRAF’S LIVING ROOM.

The reformists are going to get as many names and MORE IMPORTANTLY WOMEN’S RIGHTS GROUPS to sign off on this petition and run a full page ad with the above language when Musharraf returns home.They will be going door to door in Pakistan. They are risking their lives.

What WE ON THE OUTSIDE CAN DO IS THE FOLLOWING: We must write to the President and SAY THAT HE SHOULD SUPPORT THE SELECT COMMITEE BILL. You can cut and paste the above quoted language, even that much would be enough, but you can always add more.

Use Musharraf’s website to write to him. Make sure you use your name and location.

Remember, he needs to hear from articulate people saying that they support this. He is going to be on THE DAILY SHOW with John Stewart ON SEPTEMBER 26TH PEDDLING HIS ‘ENLIGHTENED’ BOOK. Clearly this is a man who is looking for modernist supporters (let’s for this issue put aside the non-democratic nature of his leadership). WRITE TO HIM.

Below is a news item from Daily Times that reveals why the Select Committee Bill is so good. The bill addresses, not just rape, but domestic violence, and a host of other problems like forced marriages.

In my opinion, no voice is more important, at this point, than that of Western Muslim women, and Women’s Group of any all stripe. I encourage Feministing and Feministe (with their huge readerships) to make this their cause celebre. If someone wants to make a Kos Diary out of this, feel free. I especially encourage people of Pakistani descent and connection to write. Like I said, you can simply use the above quoted language.

Please write!

Goodbye.

Govt to table amended draft of Women’s Protection Bill: Shujaat

By Mohammad Imran

ISLAMABAD: President of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML) Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain on Friday said the government had decided to table an amended draft of the Protection of Women Bill in the select committee while introducing some new proposals in it.

These proposals include an end to cruel customs like vani, swara, karo kari, marriages to the Quran, violence against women, the sale and purchase of women, etc. “The government will formally request Chaudhry Amir Hussain, the speaker of the National Assembly, to refer the amended draft of the bill to the select committee,” said Shujaat while speaking at a press conference here at the PML house.

PML Secretary-General Mushahid Hussein Syed, Information Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani and Minister of State for Information Senator Tariq Azim were also present on the occasion.

Shujaat said the select committee would also discuss six new proposals along with the amended version of the bill. The PML president said the government would have the bill passed during the ongoing National Assembly session.

Elaborating the PML proposals, Shujaat said these included legislation against domestic violence, particularly violence against women by their fathers, brothers or husbands; justice to the victim within 90 days; legislation to protect women’s right to inheritance; laws to stop forced marriages and their inclusion in Tazir; laws banning marriages with the Quran; declaration of watta-satta a crime; and stopping the sale and purchase of women. He said these proposals would also be incorporated in the amended draft of the Protection of Women Bill.

He said the debate on the bill had continued for the last few weeks and the basic purpose of the bill was to protect women’s rights, but that it had been politicised and some people had tried to dub it un-Islamic. Shujaat said he and National Assembly opposition leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman had decided to consult prominent religious scholars so that no part of the bill would go against provisions of the Quran and Sunnah.

He said various proposals had come from NGOs and civil society organisations, which would also be incorporated in the bill. He said the bill would be made comprehensive and that instead of focussing only on Zina bil Jabr (rape) or Zina bil Raza (adultery), other women’s rights should also be protected. He also regretted the Pope’s recent statement and termed the remarks against jihad and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) harmful to world peace and harmony. He said that the Islamic world should engage in dialogue with the West so that the two could understand each other better.

Senator Mushahid Hussain said the basic problems facing Pakistani women were un-Islamic traditions like vani, swara, karo kari etc.

Hafiz Hussain Ahmed has also indicated his party’s commitment to talks with the government if it presents the women’s protection bill in its new form. Talking to newsmen in the Parliament cafeteria, Hafiz Hussain Ahmad said, “We rejected the bill as the draft of the bill which was given to us on Thursday was different from the bill which was agreed to by the MMA and Ulema Committee.”