PML-N changes stance, no longer opposes the Anti-Rape Ordinance

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) moved a resolution in the National Assembly today for the disapproval of the Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trial) Ordinance, 2020. According to an official document by the National Assembly Secretariat, members from the Opposition party were to move against the Anti-Rape Ordinance.

However, the PML-N has withdrawn its resolution against the Anti-Rape Ordinance.

PML-N’s Secretary Parliamentary Affairs Shaza Fatima Khawaja told The Current that there were several Ordinances that were passed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government. The PML-N has a considered stance to oppose any legislation that is brought through Ordinances, which is why the PML-N prepared resolutions for dissolution for all of them because they were not going through proper legislative procedures. “This became one of them by mistake,” says Shaza. The PML-N has now withdrawn its resolution for disapproval of the Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trial) Ordinance, 2020.

Shaza added that the PML-N would like the government to bring this legislation to parliament as concerns were also raised by the Women’s Action Forum (WAF) and the Women’s Lawyers’ Association (WLA) about the Anti-Rape Ordinance.

“PML-N stands for women’s rights and would want a pro-women law that can also be implemented without any bureaucratic or other hurdles.” Shahza Khawaja said that despite strong opposition from PTI and other parties, the PML-N has been able to pass progressive and pro-women legislation, including the Anti-Rape Laws 2016, Anti-Honour Killing Bill, as well as Protection of Women against Violence Bill in Punjab.

In response to a tweet, Shaza Khawaja tweeted that the PML-N unequivocally stands with women’s rights in every sense of the word.

Hi @laltainhiatus
Thr were arnd 20 ordinances bypassng legis procedure inc those with serious consequences.
We moved to dissolve them n by mistake this became 1of them. We’v wthdrawn the rsolution

Rest assurd,PMLN unequivocally stands with #WomenRights in every sense of the wrd https://t.co/ooIzSA1yS4 pic.twitter.com/a9riPs7Vq5

— Shaza Fatima Khawaja (@ShazaFK) August 10, 2021

Twitterati reacted to PML-N’s withdrawing the resolution.

Farieha Aziz tweeted, “Bills will be detrimental, not beneficial if passed in their current form. Must not be passed as they are.”

WAF & WLA position paper on anti-rape ordinances put together by activists & lawyers who deal with cases of sexual violence. Bills will be detrimental, not beneficial, if passed in their current form. Must not be passed as they are https://t.co/3eO6aNASiYhttps://t.co/sVuyG7Fmd4

— Farieha Aziz (@FariehaAziz) August 10, 2021

Lawyer Reema Omer tweeted, “It was bizarre – even if well-intentioned – to make such radical reform in criminal law through ordinances anyway. The focus now must be on the anti-rape bills, which have some serious problems.”

Anti-rape ordinances will lapse this week (they’ve already been extended once)

It was bizarre – even if well intentioned – to make such radical reform in criminal law through ordinances anyway

The focus now must be on the anti-rape bills, which have some serious problems https://t.co/0xAwakjyxf

— Reema Omer (@reema_omer) August 10, 2021