Proponents of proposed Hisbah Bill argued on Sunday that the main objective of the Hisbah Institution was to reconstruct and reform the society, and provide justice to the oppressed segments of the society.
"The word Hisbah has created a fictional impression which should be corrected, but its aim is to reform all aspects of social life through this Act", said Dr Anees Ahmad, vice-chancellor, Riphah University, while speaking here at a seminar on Draft Hisbah Bill.
He said the promotion of virtue and prevention of vices was not the problem of an individual but the responsibility of the state, and it should play its role.
He said if the existing laws of the land were based on Sharia then there was no need of Hisbah, but these were inherited from the British imperialists.
Dr Anees Ahmad proposed that experts from other professions besides lawyers and journalists, should also be included in the Provincial Advisory Council of the Muhtasib, saying the terminology's like mismanagement, misappropriation and misconduct should be clearly explained.
He said the methodology to be used in implementing Islamic values at public places needed explanation and clarity, adding discouragement of dowry was mentioned in the Draft Bill, but no surety was given that women should be given their Mehr.
He said there was no mention that Mohtasib would be responsible for the identification of those eligible for Zakat, its collection and spending.
He said the Bill was silent about the curriculum taught in the educational institutions, but if the Hisbah Bill was implemented with sincerity then there would be no need of National Accountability Bureau (NAB), but it would create civility in the society.
"Social development is based on Hisbah and no other institution can deliver better than it", he added.
NWFP Law Minister Zafar Azam said in an Islamic society the institution of Hisbah was of paramount importance, and the government was bound to set up this institution. Shariah Council Chairman Mufti Ghulamur Rehman said the Council would not hesitate to include the recommendations of the people in the Bill to make it more fruitful, adding the suggestions and recommendations of all seminars and discussions so far conducted on the Hisbah Bill would be included in it.
Khawaja Naveed, advocate, from Karachi said the right of appeal or review should be given to the aggrieved party within the Hisbah Forum, adding the accused should be given right of bail.
Humaira Hussain of the Sahil, an NGO, said a monitoring system on the Mohtasib should introduce in the Bill. She said that children should be given protection not against labour, but also against other abuses in the society under the proposed Act and the children right of access to education should be protected.
Bishop Aftab Gohar of the Church of Pakistan, appreciated the Hisbah Bill and said it would ensure protection of the religious places of minorities.
The seminar was also addressed by journalist Idrees Bakhtiar and Dr Fazal Elahi, professor, International Islamic University.
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