The government has finally succeeded in "introducing" the bill to amend famously called Hudood Ordinance and as it desired it did bring out the mismatch of perceptions amongst the opposition ranks but will it ultimately become the law remains a question.
And, it is also not likely to divide the opposition later this month when the vote of no-confidence comes up against Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.
But by all means the sitting of the National Assembly this Monday evening was unique, in that leaders on both sides were able to commandeered maxim attendance; Bill was torn into pieces and tossed unto the Speaker's dais; and full-throated slogans were raised against Shaukat Aziz. In a way all sides succeeded; never mind if Pakistan was the net loser in this melodrama.
The draft of the Bill was distributed to the members and was made available to the mediamen only when it introduced.
It is a 17-page document, the last five pages devoted to the "Statement of objects and purposes." It has 30 sections that effect amendments to a number of laws including the Pakistan Penal Code (Act XLV of 1860), Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898); Dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act, 1939; Offence of Zina (Enforcement of Hudood) Ordinance, 1979 and the Offence of Qazf (Enforcement of Hadd) Ordinance, 1979. The new law has been given the title of Criminal Law Amendment (Protection of Women) Act, 2006.
Much has already been said and written about the changes that embody the Bill but one thing that would interest any reporter is insertion of a new section after Section 502A of the PPC. According to it whoever "publicises any case of Zina or rape whereby the identity of any woman or her family is disclosed shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to six months or with fine or with both."
It is however, a matter of conjecture what would ultimately be the shape of the Bill after it emerges from the crucible of discussion by a select committee which Speaker Amir Hussain decided would be set up soon. He asked the party leaders in the House to nominate two members each of them for which he said the quorum would be one-fourth.
The speaker wanted the parties to give the names of their nominees right then and there but under advice tendered by PPPP's Aitzaz Ahsan he agreed to receive the nominations in his chamber on Tuesday by 9.30 in the morning. But he is likely to learn the lesson: The hurrier I go the behinder I get. May be all would finally sit on the select committee but for the time being the matter has been taken care of, that is that it has been effectively consigned to limbo.
The House did not come straight away to the Bill. The Speaker exhausted the question hour with fair amount of indulgence by the members, as quite a few questions were about the roads the non-worthiness of which in the wake of monsoon evoked some interest.
Same was about the plots that the National Highway Authority (NHA), because if gets a 110-kanal plot for setting up a filling station it would naturally attract attention. The minister too did not appear to be very convincing in offering the logic for such largess being doled out, inviting the speaker's observation who referred the matter to the House committee. For a while the matter about the alleged detention of a lady journalist of Lehia also figured when the opposition castigated state minister Shahid Bhinder of "lying" to the House about the facts.
In the meanwhile, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz entered the House, his reception cheered by desk thumping by the treasury members and slogans of "resign, resign" by the opposition. A few minutes later when leader of opposition Maulana Fazlur Rehman came even louder thumping was heard. And, then came the Bill provoking serious rumpus. Taking the mike Maulana Fazlur Rehman maintained that the government was playing dicks and drakes with the opposition on as to what the Bill is about.
So much so that Chaudhry Shujaat only a day before "contacted me on phone and asked for a meeting" on the Bill. The Maulana welcomed the offer only if the discussion were to be broad-based and other components of the opposition particularly the PPP was also invited, along with "the government's point of view, in writing". "What can I say about it, I myself am not satisfied about the Bill", was Shujjat's reply as quoted by Maulana Fazlur Rehman. Shujaat Hussain immediately rejected this insinuation - to the delight of Zafarullah Khan Jamali who advised the members to be more responsible in their utterances in the parliament.
Others who spoke included Amin Faheem, Mehmud Khan Achkazi, Chaudhry Nisar Ali, Sahibzada Fazl Karim from the opposition side and Ijazul Haq and Dr Amar Liaquat Hussain from the treasury benches. Given the sensitivity of the issue and contentious positions taken by both sides more debate is expected tomorrow morning when the House meets.