| dbo:abstract |
The legislative assembly of Pakistan has enacted a number of measures designed to give women more power in the areas of family, inheritance, revenue, civil and criminal laws. These measures are an attempt to safeguard women's right to freedom of speech and expression without gender discrimination. These measures are enacted keeping in mind the principles described by the Quran. Laws such as the Muslim Personal Law of Sharia (addressing a woman's right to inherit all forms of property), the Muslim Family Law Ordinance or MFLO (intended to protect women against unjust but prevailing practices in regards to marriage, divorce, polygamy and other personal relationships), and the Hudood Ordinance have been legislated for ensuring the rights of women. The Hudood Ordinance was seen as working at cross-purposes to the rights of women by victimizing women only, which was corrected by the introduction of Women's Protection Bill. The Sexual Harassment Bill was created to ensure women's safety in public and work spaces, while the sought to constitutionally protect women against discriminatory social practices, such as forced marriages, intended to deprive women of their inheritance rights. The bill incorporated strong penalties for offenders. The aimed at controlling the import, production, transportation, hoarding, sale and use of acid, and provide legal support to acid burn victims. Penalties include imprisonment anywhere from fourteen years to life and fines of up to 1 million rupees. (en) |
