HARIPUR: Chairman of the Council of Islamic Ideology Dr Qibla Ayaz has said the council’s research committees held two meetings with the human rights ministry over the proposed legislation on domestic violence and pointed out some ‘ambiguities’ for removal.

After attending a seminar organised by the Nazriya Pakistan Forum’s Haripur chapter here on Monday, Dr Qibla said the members of both houses of parliament had raised certain objections to the bill on domestic violence and proposed amendments, so it was referred to the CCI for recommendations.

He said some sections of the proposed law, including those about stalking and privacy, should be revised or properly explained.

The CCI chairman said there were certain things that could be kept in the bill by simply renaming them.

“The domestic violenceprevention and protection bill can be renamed as the family strengthening bill and if that happen, I hope that it will be acceptable to the majority,” he said.

CCI chief says proposed law should be renamed

Asked about the possible international reaction if the proposedbill is changed to the one not commensurate with the UN’s human rights conventions, including Cedaw, Dr Qibla said every UN treaty carried the provision of allowing every state to enact laws in line with its Constitution but if it still drew criticism from the world bodies, it’s the responsibility of the government to defend its legislation at international forums.

He said the CII hadn’t yet received the proposed legislation in writing from the Senate and once that reached the council, recommendations would be finalised at the earliest possible.

About the single national curriculum, the CCI chairman said he didn’t find it opposed to the Islamic teachings and history.

He said the council had recommendationsfor 98 per cent of the legislation made during the last three years.

Dr Qibla, however, said the government had bypassed the CII over the bills related to FATAF.

Earlier, he told the seminar that it was high time to educate the youth about the spirit of Islamic social system for character building.

The other speakers included PMLN Senator Pir Sabir Shah, Nazriya Pakistan Forum chairman Qazi Saeed and Malik Ashfaq. Lawyers, members of the Awami Forum, teachers, and activists of political parties and religious leaders attended the event.

Published in Dawn, August 17th, 2021