The Women's Action Forum (WAF) and the Lahore High...

The Women's Action Forum (WAF) and the Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) demanded that the government repeal the Hudood (Zina) Ordinance, 1979, and abolish the Federal Sharia Court immediately.
Addressing a joint news conference at the Lahore Press Club, WAF officials Hina Jillan, Faryal Gauhar, Khawar Mumtaz, Fareeda Shaheed, Neelum Hussain and lawyer Shahid Bhatti criticised the Hudood Ordinance as contrary to all norms and morality.
Hina Jillani, who is also general secretary of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), called upon [Pakistani president]General Pervez Musharraf to eliminate extremism and abolish all discriminatory laws meant to victimize women immediately.
Faryal Gauhar, who is also the UN Rapporteur on women rights in Pakistan, said General Musharraf used the pledge to women's rights to gain legitimacy in the eyes of world community and promised to set aside violence against women in the country.
She vowed to fight the cause for women in general and Hudood cases like that of Zafran Bibi in particular.
LHCBA secretary Shahid Bhatti lamented the establishment of Federal Shariat Court as a sign of no confidence in the existing higher judiciary.