Protection of Women (Criminal Laws Amendment) Act, 2006

December 1, 2006

A BILL further to amend the Pakistan Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure and other laws

WHEREAS it is necessary to provide relief and protection to women against misuse and abuse of law and to prevent their exploitation;

AND WHEREAS Article 14 of the Constitution ensures that dignity of man and, subject to law, the privacy of home, shall be inviolable;

AND WHEREAS Article 25 of the Constitution guarantees that there shall be no discrimination on the basis of sex alone and that the State shall make provisions for the protection of women;

AND WHEREAS Article 37 of the Constitution encourages promotion of social justice and eradication of social evils;

AND WHEREAS the objective of this Bill is to bring in particular the laws relating to zina and qazf in conformity with the stated objectives of the Constitution and the injunctions of Islam,

AND WHEREAS it is expedient for the aforesaid objectives further to amend the Pakistan Penal Code (Act XLV of 1860), the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898, the Dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act, 1939 (VIII of 1939), the Offence of Zina (Enforcement of Hudood) Ordinance, 1979 (VII of 1979), and the Offence of Qazf (Enforcement of Hadd) Ordinance, 1979 (VIII of 1979) and for the purposes hereinafter appearing,

It is hereby enacted as follows: