Why did PM not announce Women Empowerment Package on Women’s Day?

ISLAMABAD: Controversy over the flawed Punjab law recently enacted for the protection of women from violence had prevented Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from announcing the promised “Women Empowerment Package” on the occasion of International Women Day - March 8.

Early this month the prime minister had constituted a high level committee to prepare the package for women empowerment for announcement on March 8. However, despite the fact that the committee had done its job, Nawaz Sharif avoided to announce the package.

Sources said the serious controversy over the recently enacted but seriously flawed Protection of Women from Violence Act 2016 by the Punjab government served as a timely caution for the prime minister to delay any such package that may invite more trouble for the government instead of addressing the issue.

These sources said that unlike Punjab, which is criticised for enacting a law that is said to be in violation of the teachings of Islam, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif wants to review the package for women empowered in line with the teachings of Islam.

An 18-member committee -- constituted by the prime minister and headed by Federal Minister Zahid Hamid -- had prepared the package for women empowerment for its announcement on March 8. However, it was not done by the prime minister.

State Minister for Human Rights Barrister Zafarullah Khan, who was also member of the committee, had told The News on March 7, “The committee has sent the summary to the prime minister with a request to announce the package on March 8. Zafarullah had added that it would be a very comprehensive package as compared to the empowerment packages announced by Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhawa.

The package, prepared by the committee included initiatives to ensure education and health rights, skill development, legislation, property rights, better working environment, implementation of quotas and strengthening of institutions made for women empowerment. “The package was made time bound where all initiatives are mentioned with time limit of implementation,” Zafarullah was quoted as saying.

The package was prepared as part of Action Plan on Human Rights approved by the prime minister and announced by the Ministry of Human Rights recently.

It was also announced that the Ministry of Human Rights plans to club different pro-women laws in one legislation. For this purpose, a consultant has already been hired to prepare the draft.

The Punjab government, which upon the enactment of the law for protection of women from violence claimed credit and took it as an addition of a feather in PML-N’s hat, has now been backfooted after the serious controversies generated by the law.

After Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif’s assurance to the protesting parties that the law would be reviewed for improvement, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday assured Maulana Fazlur Rehman that the government is ready to address the reservations about the Punjab law. It is said that Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has also formed a consultative committee to suggest improvement in the women protection act.