A new law in Pakistan's Punjab state aimed at protecting women has been condemned by religious parties.
The Women's Protection Bill was passed unanimously by Punjab's legislature last week and signed into law on Monday.
The law declares physical violence, abusive language, stalking, cyber crimes, sexual violence, and psychological and emotional abuse against women a crime. It also provides for women's shelters and prevents them being forced out of their homes.
However, according to religious parties, the law amounts to an attack on Pakistan's family system. The head of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, said: "This law is in conflict with the Holy Quran, the life of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), Constitution of Pakistan and values of our country." He added: "It will cause divisions within families and the rate of divorce will increase."
The head of Jamaat-e-Islami, Siraj ul Haq, told workers in Lahore: "The bill is tantamount to undermining our family system and would affect the relationship of respect between mothers, sisters and husbands."
However, the chair of the Punjab Commission on the Status of Women, Fauzia Viqar, told the Express Tribune: "The bill is aimed at upholding the principles of kindness, justice and equality enunciated by Islam."
She said that the legislation was a deterrent against domestic violence.
Another supporter, Salman Sufi, noted that Pakistan had been declared the third most dangerous country in the world for women. "The conviction rate for such cases is very low. Violence against women cases are increasing in the Punjab. In Punjab, eight women are raped, 11 battered and assaulted, and 32 women are abducted daily," he said. Sufi added that the bill had been passed with wide cross-party support.
