Speakers in a seminar on Wednesday termed the proposed Hasba Bill as repugnant to Islam, saying it would create chaos, anarchy and lawlessness in the province.
The seminar was held under the auspices of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) at the Zubair Mir Hall of Peshawar Press Club. A large number of people belonging to different walks of life including political activists, members of civil societies, lawyers and journalists attended.
The speakers included opposition leader in NWFP Shehzada Gustasap Khan, Abdul Akbar Khan PPP, Bashir Ahmed Bilour ANP and Anwar Kamal Khan Marwat of PML (N) while Sher Afgan advocate, former president of Peshawar High Court Bar Association represented lawyers community.
Addressing the seminar Abdul Akbar Khan, parliamentary leader of PPP-Parliamentarians in the NWFP assembly said that the MMA government raising such issues to create atmosphere for bargaining with President General Pervez Musharraf. He was of the view that all is going on with the whims of the government.
The PPP leader said that whenever Musharraf used to go on foreign visit, the provincial government raised such matters and mentioned the passage of the Shariat Bill last year when the President was on US visit. He said that bill is passing through the phases of certain amendments saying it is present in complete shape.
He said the purpose of the introduction of such bills is to hide the failure and incompetence of the provincial government. He said that they have suggested 12 amendments in the Shariat Bill, which were refused and added that despite passage of one year no change has been brought in the province.
He said that like Shariat Bill, Hasba Bill would also prove a political slogan, as they want to divert the attention of the people from real problems.
Bashir Ahmad Bilour of ANP expressed the fear that the passage of the bill would push the province towards Taleban era. He said that he and his colleagues would resist the bill with tooth and nail in the house and demanded of the federal government to take measures to stop it from passage by the assembly.
He said that the establishment of the Hasba force would revive the rule of the Shah of Iran's force, which was used to arrest the opponents and execute them the very next day. Criticising the bill, he termed it an attempt to create employment opportunities for mullahs and would be like the military summary courts.
Anwar Kamal Marwat of PML (N) said they are against the approach of the provincial government, as despite of the passage of Shariat Bill nothing has been changed. He dispelled the impression that the bill would be a panacea for all kind of social injustices and evils.
He said that government is using such tactics only to prolong their rule, saying that the Shariat Bill passed last year was actually the translation of the Shariat Bill passed by the National Assembly in 1991. He said that the people have no concern with Hasba or Shariat Bill and they are looking for food and employment.
Opposition Leader in NWFP Assembly, Shehzada Gustasap Khan said that the opposition parties in the province have rejected the proposed Hasba Bill and urged on the provincial government to stop the presentation of the bill in the assembly.
He said that if the government is really interested in the solution of the problems of the people then it should strengthened policing and district governments. He urged upon the government to stop confusing the people as it had miserably failed in bringing any kind of change even after the passage of the Shariat Bill.
In reply to the hard hitting speeches of the opposition members, NWFP Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, who was representing MMA government in the seminar defended the policies of the government and said that the matter of vices and virtues has great importance in Islam. He said that all constitutions of Pakistan have suggested establishment of the institution of Mohtasibs.
He said that the unanimous constitution of 1973 is also clear on the religion, which had declared Islam as official religion of the country. He said that they have came into power with the pledge of the enforcement of Islam. He said that through the establishment of the institution of Mohtasib they want the elimination of social evils and promotion of goods.
The law minister defended the government decision of sending Hasba Bill first to the governor, saying that in the framing of such laws the prior approval of the governor is constitutional requirement.
He said that they did not want to bulldoze legislation through brute majority.