Minorities of Pakistan have demanded complete repeal of Hudood Ordinance or exemption of minorities from this law, Chief of All Pakistan Minorities Alliance Chief, Shahbaz Bhatti said on Sunday.
In a statement he said he said the government should also consult the minorities before introducing any change in Hudood Ordinance.
"Like other discriminatory laws, Hudood Ordinance is totally against the basic human rights, its principles and interfaith harmony. Over the past years many human rights groups and prominent Muslim scholars have voiced against the misuse of law and its flaws due to which mainly women, minorities and oppressed section of society suffered and forced to remain behind bars for several years".
He emphasised that the minorities' status and their rights have been negated by the Hudood Ordinance as the witness of a non Muslim man is reduce to half (1/2 ) and that of woman to one fourth (1/4) to that of Muslim and the personal laws of minorities seize to exist. He said that APMA has decided to launch letter writing campaign and will contact all major political parties to convince them to repeal this law because any change or amendment in said Ordinance will not solve the problem rather the issue will remain in one or the other shape. It is imperative to completely do away with this law, hence the President and the Parliamentarian of Pakistan should take decisive step.
He lamented that it is unfortunate to see minorities driven back and cornered from issues of national importance and their opinion is totally neglected. Minorities are never consulted on formulation of any law even on those, which directly or indirectly affect them and their demands are always rejected.
He said, "Hudood Ordinance is an Islamic law hence minorities should be exempted from this law rather their cases should be dealt under their own personal laws. Time has proven the fact that Hudood Ordinance, which was forced by a dictator, has no legal, moral and constitutional base".
Shahbaz Bhatti said minorities should be made part of main stream and be given equal rights and status as well as consulted on the matters of national interest in order to harmonise the society so that a thought of equality and justice could prevail in the country.