In a women’s forum, President Pervez Musharraf assured to empower women, provide them more opportunities and end injustices against them.
On the issue of the Women’s Protection Law which was violently opposed by conservatives, he said, ‘I congratulate the entire nation that an aggressively progressive bill has been passed’.
He asserted that very soon his government would formulate new legislations that would liberate women. It would also ensure women’s right to their inheritance ban the sale of women in the name of marriage and end the age-old practice of marrying women to the Qur’an to deprive them of their share in property.
Recently an amendment in the Hudood Ordinance,– where previously, a rape victim had to produce four male witnesses to prove the assault or face possible prosecution for adultery and now the witness are not required making it easier to prosecute rapist– has also not welcomed by the opposition.
Musharraf derided those who opposed the reform and said people should not vote for them in the forthcoming elections.
He also eulogized federal ministers Dr. Sher Afgan, Wasi Zafar and Sumaira Malik for working diligently to make new laws to empower women.
