Islamabad: Amidst threats of resignations by lawmakers belonging to Islamic alliance MMA, Pakistan government has deferred the debate in Parliament on a bill to modify controversial Islamic laws, including one which forces rape victims to produce four male witnesses to prove the crime.
As the Muttahida Majlis-e Amal (MMA) threatened to resign from Parliament in protest against the bill to amend the Hudood Ordinance brought in by former military ruler Zia-ul Haq, the government stepped up consultations with the Islamic alliance' leaders to mollify them.
The government was now set to further tone down the provisions of the bill to amend the ordinance criticised by the human rights groups as "draconian" for women, specially the victims of rape and violence.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) headed by former premier Benazir Bhutto was the only opposition party to have expressed support for the bill.
PPP General Secretary Pervez Asharf said the party would formulate its stand after the government announced changes to the bill.
The government's Protection of Women (Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill seeking to protect women from the misuse of two controversial Hudood laws was the first item on the day's legislative agenda yesterday, but was not taken up for unexplained reasons while talks were being held between leaders of the ruling PML-Q and MMA.
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