Islamic Ideology Council rejects Hasba Act

Pakistan's leading religious affairs advisory body, the Council for Islamic Ideology (CII), has rejected the proposed 'Hasba' legislation, prepared by the provincial government of Pakistan's North West Frontier Province (NWFP) for the implementation of Shariat law, an English-language daily has reported. According to the 'Daily Times' on Sunday, the CII "reviewed the Hasba Act on Thursday and rejected it." The CII has also proposed the establishment of the provincial and district ombudsman's office for the provision of justice to the people, the main concern of the NWFP provincial government, according to the newspaper. The CII is a 12-member federal advisory body constituted under the 1973 constitution of the South Asian nation, which advises on the conformity of legislative proposals and executive administration to Islamic principles. Khalid Masood, chairman of the CII told IRIN that the council had discussed the matter but declined to comment on the recommendations. "The governor of NWFP had asked the council to review the proposed law and we have forwarded our recommendations, but our position is only advisory and we can't express our own opinion over any issue," Masood said. The proposed legalislation of the 'Hasba Act' - introduced last year by NWFP's conservative religious government - seeks to establish a new department of vice and virtue and recommends the enforcement of Islamic laws in the province in almost every field including education and the judiciary. The law reportedly intends to end bribery, obscenity and other social evils. Civil society groups have been raising concerns over moves by the provincial government to introduce Islamic laws in the province. Recently the government revealed a plan to shut public and private offices during prayer times. Meanwhile, the provincial governor of NWFP was approached to comment but he declined. The CII has been addressing several issues in the past and sends its recommendations when asked by relevant parliamentary committees. President Pervez Musharraf had asked the council earlier this year to review a variety of discriminatory laws against women to which the council is preparing its recommendations. In June 2003, NWFP voted to give Shariat precedence over secular provincial law. According to the BBC, critics fear a re-run of life under the Taliban, the Islamic hardliners who ruled Afghanistan, while supporters say it will curb obscenity and protect human decency. Hardliners have been cracking down on activities they consider un-Islamic since an alliance of religious parties swept to power in NWFP in October 2002.