"\u003chtml xmlns:o=\"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office\"\r\nxmlns:w=\"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word\"\r\nxmlns=\"http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40\"\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003chead\u003e\r\n\u003cmeta http-equiv=Content-Type content=\"text/html; charset=windows-1252\"\u003e\r\n\u003cmeta name=ProgId content=Word.Document\u003e\r\n\u003cmeta name=Generator content=\"Microsoft Word 9\"\u003e\r\n\u003cmeta name=Originator content=\"Microsoft Word 9\"\u003e\r\n\u003clink rel=File-List href=\"./1998J5_files/filelist.xml\"\u003e\r\n\u003ctitle\u003eCONSTITUTIONAL GUARANTEES FOR THE RIGHTS\u003c/title\u003e\r\n\u003c!--[if gte mso 9]\u003e\u003cxml\u003e\r\n \u003co:DocumentProperties\u003e\r\n  \u003co:Author\u003eAdnan\u003c/o:Author\u003e\r\n  \u003co:Template\u003eNormal\u003c/o:Template\u003e\r\n  \u003co:LastAuthor\u003eSaif\u003c/o:LastAuthor\u003e\r\n  \u003co:Revision\u003e4\u003c/o:Revision\u003e\r\n  \u003co:TotalTime\u003e0\u003c/o:TotalTime\u003e\r\n  \u003co:Created\u003e2002-05-08T13:53:00Z\u003c/o:Created\u003e\r\n  \u003co:LastSaved\u003e2003-01-03T07:01:00Z\u003c/o:LastSaved\u003e\r\n  \u003co:Pages\u003e4\u003c/o:Pages\u003e\r\n  \u003co:Words\u003e2182\u003c/o:Words\u003e\r\n  \u003co:Characters\u003e12441\u003c/o:Characters\u003e\r\n  \u003co:Company\u003eOratier Technologies\u003c/o:Company\u003e\r\n  \u003co:Lines\u003e103\u003c/o:Lines\u003e\r\n  \u003co:Paragraphs\u003e24\u003c/o:Paragraphs\u003e\r\n  \u003co:CharactersWithSpaces\u003e15278\u003c/o:CharactersWithSpaces\u003e\r\n  \u003co:Version\u003e9.2720\u003c/o:Version\u003e\r\n \u003c/o:DocumentProperties\u003e\r\n\u003c/xml\u003e\u003c![endif]--\u003e\u003c!--[if gte mso 9]\u003e\u003cxml\u003e\r\n \u003cw:WordDocument\u003e\r\n  \u003cw:View\u003eNormal\u003c/w:View\u003e\r\n  \u003cw:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing\u003e2.85 pt\u003c/w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing\u003e\r\n  \u003cw:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery\u003e2\u003c/w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery\u003e\r\n \u003c/w:WordDocument\u003e\r\n\u003c/xml\u003e\u003c![endif]--\u003e\r\n\u003cstyle\u003e\r\n\u003c!--\r\n /* Font Definitions */\r\n@font-face\r\n\t{font-family:Tahoma;\r\n\tpanose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;\r\n\tmso-font-charset:0;\r\n\tmso-generic-font-family:swiss;\r\n\tmso-font-pitch:variable;\r\n\tmso-font-signature:553679495 -2147483648 8 0 66047 0;}\r\n /* Style Definitions */\r\np.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal\r\n\t{mso-style-parent:\"\";\r\n\tmargin:0in;\r\n\tmargin-bottom:.0001pt;\r\n\tmso-pagination:widow-orphan;\r\n\tfont-size:12.0pt;\r\n\tfont-family:\"Times New Roman\";\r\n\tmso-fareast-font-family:\"Times New Roman\";}\r\nh1\r\n\t{mso-style-next:Normal;\r\n\tmargin-top:0in;\r\n\tmargin-right:117.35pt;\r\n\tmargin-bottom:0in;\r\n\tmargin-left:0in;\r\n\tmargin-bottom:.0001pt;\r\n\ttext-align:center;\r\n\tmso-pagination:widow-orphan;\r\n\tpage-break-after:avoid;\r\n\tmso-outline-level:1;\r\n\tfont-size:12.0pt;\r\n\tfont-family:\"Times New Roman\";\r\n\tmso-font-kerning:0pt;\r\n\tmso-ansi-language:EN-GB;}\r\n@page Section1\r\n\t{size:6.35in 841.7pt;\r\n\tmargin:.75in 0in 2.9pt .35in;\r\n\tmso-header-margin:.5in;\r\n\tmso-footer-margin:.5in;\r\n\tmso-paper-source:0;}\r\ndiv.Section1\r\n\t{page:Section1;}\r\n--\u003e\r\n\u003c/style\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cscript language=\"JavaScript\"\u003e\r\n\u003c!--\r\nfunction NoSelect()\r\n{\r\n{alert(\"OOoops! You are not authorized to copy the TEXT.......!\")}\r\n}\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nfunction noRightClick()\r\n{if (event.button==2)\r\n{alert(\"The Data is Copyright Property of PLD \u0026 PakistanLawSite.com\")}\r\n}\r\ndocument.onmousedown=noRightClick; \r\ndocument.onselectstart=NoSelect;\r\ndocument.onkeydown= Stopit; \r\ndocument.onkeypress = Stopit; \r\ndocument.onkeyup = Stopit; \r\nfunction Stopit()\r\n{alert(\"Copyright (C) 2000  LawOnLine  All Rights Reserved\");\r\nwindow.open (\u0027http://www.pakistanlawsite.com\u0027);} \r\n--\u003e\r\n\u003c/script\u003e\r\n\u003cscript src=\"../../../nc.js\" type=\"text/javascript\" \u003e\u003c/script\u003e\r\n  \r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n\u003cbody lang=EN-US style=\u0027tab-interval:.5in\u0027\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cdiv class=Section1\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ch1 style=\u0027margin-right:0in\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN-GB\u003eCONSTITUTIONAL GUARANTEES FOR THE\r\nRIGHTS\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/h1\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal align=center style=\u0027text-align:center\u0027\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN-GB\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\u0027\u003eOF WOMEN AND THEIR IMPLEMENTATION\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN-GB\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\u0027\u003e\u003c![if !supportEmptyParas]\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c![endif]\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal align=center style=\u0027text-align:center\u0027\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN-GB\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\u0027\u003e[\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/b\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN-GB style=\u0027mso-ansi-language:\r\nEN-GB\u0027\u003eDiscussion at Pakistan Women Lawyers\u0027 Association Refresher Training\r\nWorkshop held at Karachi from 26\u0026#8209;12\u0026#8209;1997 to 30\u0026#8209;12\u0026#8209;1997.\u003cb\u003e]\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN-GB\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\u0027\u003e\u003c![if !supportEmptyParas]\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c![endif]\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal align=center style=\u0027text-align:center\u0027\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN-GB\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\u0027\u003eBy\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN-GB\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\u0027\u003e\u003c![if !supportEmptyParas]\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c![endif]\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal align=center style=\u0027text-align:center\u0027\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN-GB\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\u0027\u003eDr. Muhammad Farogh Naseem,\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal align=center style=\u0027text-align:center\u0027\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN-GB\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\u0027\u003e\u003c![if !supportEmptyParas]\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c![endif]\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal align=center style=\u0027text-align:center\u0027\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN-GB\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\u0027\u003eLL. B. (Hon) (Wales), LL. M. (London), Ph. D\r\n(London)\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal align=center style=\u0027text-align:center\u0027\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN-GB\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\u0027\u003eof Lincoln\u0027s Inn, Barrister\u0026#8209;at\u0026#8209;Law\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN-GB\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\u0027\u003e\u003c![if !supportEmptyParas]\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c![endif]\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN-GB\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\u0027\u003eMrs. Rasheeda Patel, President of PAWLA, office\u0026#8209;bearers\r\nand participants! I am indeed very grateful to Mrs. Rasheeda Patel for having\r\ngiven me an opportunity to express my views today. Mrs. Patel is not just a\r\nperson she by herself is an institution and comprises a towering personality.\r\nHer single- handed contribution as a human rights\u0027 activist and a\r\nphilanthropist is highly commendable.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN-GB\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\u0027\u003e\u003c![if !supportEmptyParas]\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c![endif]\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN-GB\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\u0027\u003eThe topic of discussion for today is extremely\r\nsignificant for us. Our operative Constitution i.e. the Constitution of\r\nPakistan, 1973 contains three sets of provisions in the context of rights of\r\nman; firstly certain background provisions, secondly fundamental rights and\r\nthirdly principles of policy. I shall discuss them each in turn.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN-GB\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\u0027\u003e\u003c![if !supportEmptyParas]\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c![endif]\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN-GB\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\u0027\u003eThe background provisions are essentially\r\nArticles 2A, 3 and 4 of the Constitution. Article 2A talks in terms of the\r\npreamble of the Constitution becoming a substantive part thereof. The preamble\r\nin turn talks, inter alia, in terms of the equality. Wherever the term\r\n\u0026quot;equality\u0026quot; is used the same obviously employs sexual equality as\r\nwell. In my humble opinion Article 2A can be employed to check laws and actions\r\nwhich are against the principle of sexual equality. Article 3 of the\r\nConstitution embodies the egalitarian expectations of the entire nation viz.\r\nthat exploitation should be eliminated. Once again if there are exploitative\r\ntendencies towards women the same can and should be remedied through recourse\r\nto Article 3. Article 4 contains the due process clause. In other words it\r\nstates that everything should be done in accordance with law. Such a provision\r\nis also the cornerstone for the concept of the rule of law. Once again if a\r\nwoman is not treated justly and equitably in accordance with law, Article 4\r\nwill also be violated.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN-GB\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\u0027\u003e\u003c![if !supportEmptyParas]\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c![endif]\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN-GB\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\u0027\u003eOur Constitution contains a number of\r\nfundamental rights. Article 8 of the Constitution provides that anything which\r\nis against the fundamental rights shall be void except of course in cases of\r\ncertain derogations in the public interest. Article 9 of our Constitution\r\nprotects the right of life. The term \u0026quot;life\u0026quot; has been interpreted by\r\nthe Supreme Court in the Shehla Zia\u0027s case PLD 1994 SC 693. The Supreme Court\r\nin this case has held that a duty is cast upon the State to ensure that a\r\nperson is provided with ample facilities and amenities to lead his/her life.\r\nWhile Article 9 is available to guarantee the right to life, women in general\r\ncan invoke the same in case they find that they are forced to live in a manner\r\nwhere their basic right to live and enjoy amenities and facilities are\r\nhampered. Article 9 can also thus be employed to ensure that women are not\r\nsubjected to inhuman and degrading treatment. Article 14 of the Constitution\r\nprovides for, inter alia, the dignity of man. Once again such fundamental right\r\nis very much extendable to women as well. Where a woman is subjected to torturous,\r\ninhuman and degrading treatment, together with Article 9, Article 14 can also\r\nbe pressed into service to provide effective relief to the aggrieved woman. The\r\nmost important fundamental right in relation to property is enshrined to\r\nArticle 23 which provides that every citizen shall have the right to acquire,\r\nhold and dispose of property in any part of Pakistan, subject of course, to any\r\nreasonable restrictions imposed in the public interest. This broad provision\r\nwould show that both men and women alike can hold, acquire and dispose of any\r\nproperty without discrimination. In this context it would be relevant to\r\nobserve that before the advent of Islam women had no position or status.\r\nWhether it was the Greek or Roman Law or the German\u0026#8209;Tutonic Codes, a\r\nwoman was no better than a mere chattel. Islamic recognised her distinct\r\nentity. She would retain side by side with her maiden name, the name of the\r\nfamily in she was born. In this respect the illustration of Hazrat Aisha\r\nSiddiqa retaining both her maiden and family names is more than pertinent. A\r\nwoman\u0027s name in Islam does not merge with her husband\u0027s name or his family\u0027s\r\nname. A woman retains her distinct entity and is free to acquire, hold, dispose\r\nof and administer property in her own name or to carry on arty business and\r\ntrade of her choice or to seek employment as per her requirements. These\r\naspects of Islam are fully guaranteed by our Constitution as Article 18\r\nguarantees the freedom of trade, business or profession to every citizen\r\nincluding women, while together with Articles 23 (already discussed) and 24 the\r\nproperty rights of women are also amply protected.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN-GB\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\u0027\u003e\u003c![if !supportEmptyParas]\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c![endif]\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN-GB\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\u0027\u003eI think that the singular most important\r\nArticle in the Constitution in relation to rights of women is Article 25. This\r\nArticle guarantees equal treatment to all citizens, while specifying that there\r\nshall be no discrimination on the basis of sex alone. Our superior Courts have\r\nfortunately done a great deal to vindicate the fundamental rights of equality\r\nin favour of women in Shirin Munir v. Government of Punjab PLD 1990 SC 295\r\nadmissions to co\u0026#8209;educational Medical Colleges were allowed strictly on\r\nmerits, while maintaining the right of women to seek exclusive admission to\r\nGirls\u0027 Medical Colleges. In this respect it would be pertinent to observe Supreme\r\nCourt in this regard explained the scope and intent of Article 25 follows:\u0026#8209;\u0026#8209;\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN-GB\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\u0027\u003e\u003c![if !supportEmptyParas]\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c![endif]\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN-GB\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\u0027\u003e\u0026quot;No discrimination on the ground of sex\r\nalone can be permitted except on the ground of reasonable and intelligible\r\nclassification. Such classification in our society permits for the present\r\nestablishment of educational and professional institutions exclusively for the\r\nfemales or exclusively for the males. However, where co\u0026#8209;education is\r\npermitted and the institution is not reserved for one sex alone, the fixation\r\nof number on the ground of sex will directly be opposed to the requirement of\r\nArticle 25(2) unless it is justified as a protective measure for women and\r\nchildren under Article 25(3). In other words the number of girl students can be\r\nfixed as the minimum but not as the maximum, particularly so where on merit\r\nthey are likely to get more than the fixed number of seats. The Constitution\r\nassumes that the women and children in our society need protection and not the\r\nmales and as long as the Constitution mentions that assumption and basis, we\r\ncannot reverse it by affording protection to male and adults at the cost of\r\nwomen and children. That would be opposed to the very fundamental mandate of\r\nthe Constitution.\u0026quot;\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN-GB\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\u0027\u003e\u003c![if !supportEmptyParas]\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c![endif]\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN-GB\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\u0027\u003eThe Supreme Court thus observed that the claim\r\nof the girl\u0026#8209;students merited acceptance on the ground that they have been\r\ndiscriminated against in the matter of admission to co\u0026#8209;education medical\r\ncolleges by suppressing their merit as against the boys who were admitted.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN-GB\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\u0027\u003e\u003c![if !supportEmptyParas]\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c![endif]\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN-GB\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\u0027\u003eSimilarly, the criticism levelled by women that\r\ntheir evidence is not regarded as admissible in matters of Hudood and Qisas has\r\nbeen remedied to some extent by the Federal Shariat Court in Begum Rashida\r\nPatel v. Federation of Pakistan PLD 1989 FSC 1995 where it has been held that\r\nevidence of women \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN-GB style=\u0027mso-bidi-font-family:Tahoma;\r\nmso-ansi-language:EN-GB\u0027\u003ef is definitely admissible at least in so far as\r\nimposition of Tazir punishments are concerned.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN-GB\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-bidi-font-family:Tahoma;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\u0027\u003e\u003c![if !supportEmptyParas]\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c![endif]\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN-GB\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-bidi-font-family:Tahoma;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\u0027\u003eVery recently the\r\nSindh High Court in the celebrated case of Rani v. State PLD 1996 Karachi 316\r\nhas yet remedied a great disparity between men and women when facing trials\r\npertaining to the offence of Zina. Previously, the position was that where a\r\nwoman alleged rape having been committed to her by a man, the man would go scot\r\nfree on grounds of insufficiency of evidence against him but the woman would be\r\nconvicted for having illicit sexual intercourse since the same would stand\r\nestablished in view of her pregnancy consequent upon the alleged rape. In Rani,\r\nhowever, the Sindh High Court remedied this grave injustice and held that in\r\nsuch circumstances the woman would also have to be acquitted since Zina is a\r\njoint offence requiring identifications of both a man and a woman, distinctly,\r\nfailing which the offence of Zina would be incomplete.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN-GB\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-bidi-font-family:Tahoma;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\u0027\u003e\u003c![if !supportEmptyParas]\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c![endif]\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN-GB\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-bidi-font-family:Tahoma;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\u0027\u003eArticle 26 of the\r\nConstitution further provides that there shall be no discrimination on amongst\r\nothers, the ground of sex in respect of access to places of public\r\nentertainment or resort not intended for religious purposes. Similarly, Article\r\n27 forbids discrimination on grounds, inter alia, pertaining to \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan\r\nlang=EN-GB style=\u0027mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\u0027\u003esex in relation to appointments in\r\nthe service of Pakistan. The latter Article thus ensures equality in relation\r\nto access to employment.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN-GB\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\u0027\u003e\u003c![if !supportEmptyParas]\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c![endif]\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN-GB\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\u0027\u003eApart from these fundamental rights our\r\nConstitution contains certain principles of policy which aim to eradicate\r\ndiscrimination against women and encourage participation of women\r\nwholeheartedly. In this regard Article 33 provides for the State to discourage\r\namongst others parochial and tribal prejudices. I think this is a very\r\nimportant provision of policy as it is geared to shun male chauvinism which, I\r\nam afraid, is found to be in great abundance, though its parochial nature\r\ncannot be denied even amongst the less educated individuals. Article 34\r\nstipulates that steps should be taken to ensure a full participation of women\r\nin all spheres of national life. In this context it will be pertinent to\r\nunderscore an excerpt from the Presidential address of the Quaid\u0026#8209;e -Azam\r\non 23\u003csup\u003erd\u003c/sup\u003e March, 1940 when the famous Lahore Resolution demanding\r\nPakistan was adopted:\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN-GB\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\u0027\u003e\u003c![if !supportEmptyParas]\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c![endif]\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN-GB\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\u0027\u003e\u0026quot;It was a crime against community that\r\nMuslim women should be shut up within the four walls of houses as prisoners. No\r\nnation can rise to the height of glory unless the women are side by side with\r\nthe men. \u0026quot;\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN-GB\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\u0027\u003e\u003c![if !supportEmptyParas]\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c![endif]\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN-GB\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\u0027\u003eThere is a great wisdom in what our Quaid\u0026#8209;e\u0026#8209;Azam\r\nhas said. Participation of women also has an economic argument\u0026#8209;\u0026#8209;if\r\nour women work, our labour force would also increase considerably since women\r\ncomprise nearly 52 per cent of our population. Article 35 of the Constitution\r\nprovides that the State shall protect the marriage, the family and the mother and\r\nthe child. Once again apart from this Article having a welfare tinge, it makes\r\nprovisions to protect the eastern culture of our society in which women who are\r\nmothers, wives and sisters have a pivotal role. Article 37 contains a number of\r\nimportant aspects. To start with Article 37(a) stipulates to promote the\r\neducational and economic interests of backward classes or areas. I would\r\ninterpret this provision as guaranteeing the educational and economic interests\r\nof women since in our country women constitute a backward class. Article 37(e)\r\nprovides that better conditions in employment are to be provided for women and\r\nchildren who should not be employed in vocations unsuited to their age or sex.\r\nThe said Article also provides for maternity benefits for women in employment.\r\nArticle 37(g), inter alia, enjoys upon the State\u0027 to prevent prostitution and\r\nprinting, publication, circulation, and display of obscene literature and\r\nadvertisements. Unfortunately, the male population of our country eyes women as\r\nsexual objects and most of the obscene literature and advertisement portray\r\nwomen. This Article makes ample provision to remedy the situation. Finally,\r\nArticle 38(a) provides that the State shall secure the well being of the\r\npeople, irrespective of sex and other aspects, while Article 38(d) stipulates\r\nthat the State shall provide for the basic necessities of life, once again\r\nirrespective of sex and other aspects.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN-GB\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\u0027\u003e\u003c![if !supportEmptyParas]\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c![endif]\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN-GB\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\u0027\u003eTo round off the discussion on the rights of women\r\nas guaranteed under the Constitution I am of the view that the Constitution\r\nprovides for ample guarantees to protect the women but that by itself is not\r\nenough. Merely paying lip service to such grand and egalitarian provisions will\r\nnot alter the sad predicament faced by our women. The rigorous stipulations\r\ncontained in the Constitution are hardly enforced. A lot has to do with our own\r\nmale thinking as we live in an utterly male dominated society. Our attitudes\r\ntowards our own women will have to fundamentally change to cause any difference\r\nin the existing state of affairs of women. This, of course, does not mean that\r\nthere should be a licence to obscenity or that women should be let completely\r\nloose and encouraged to become paranoid about their rights, independence and\r\nfeminism. On the contrary, a balance has to be stuck. But having said this the\r\npresent position is hardly any satisfactory.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN-GB\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\u0027\u003e\u003c![if !supportEmptyParas]\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c![endif]\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN-GB\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\u0027\u003eThe fundamental rights and the guarantees\r\nenvisaged in our Constitution have to be implemented in letter and spirit\r\nfailing which despite the grand provisions in the Constitution the rights of\r\nwomen would remain unprotected. The fundamental rights and guarantees which are\r\ncontained in the Constitution are in theory enforceable against the State and\r\nits functionaries. From surveys and various studies it transpires that day\u0026#8209;to\u0026#8209;day\r\ninjustices and high\u0026#8209;handedness are caused to women, especially the\r\nuneducated ones, by private individuals more frequently than the State. Perhaps\r\nan impelling case is made out for a Constitutional reform whereby the rights\r\nand guarantees pertaining to women in the Constitution also become enforceable\r\nagainst private individuals.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN-GB\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\u0027\u003e\u003c![if !supportEmptyParas]\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c![endif]\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN-GB\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\u0027\u003eFinally on the score of political rights I am\r\nafraid that the same are not adequately protected as far as women are\r\nconcerned. Our Constitution today does not reserve any seat for \u0027women either\r\nin the Provincial or National Assemblies or even the Senate. Article 51(4) of\r\nthe Constitution provides that till the expiration of 10 years from the\r\ncommencing day or the holding of the third general election to the National\r\nAssembly, whichever occurs later, 20 seats would be reserved for women and\r\nallocated to the provinces in accordance with the Constitution and the law.\r\nArticle 51(5) makes certain provisions for women\u0027s seats. for the National\r\nAssembly which are relatable to Article 51(4). Unfortunately, the deadline as\r\nenvisaged under Article 51(4) having lapsed, today all seats reserved for women\r\nstand abolished (see Miss Afroz Ahsan Haq v. Federal Government of Pakistan PLD\r\n1995 Karachi 56). No doubt as regards their political rights women are not\r\ndiscriminated against men and the provisions of our Constitution are in\r\nconsonance with the Convention on the Political Rights of Women, 1953. However,\r\nsuch a state of affairs is not satisfactory. In my humble opinion since women\r\nof our country constitute a backward class, law arid the Constitution should\r\nmake provisions for reserving women\u0027s seats, both at the centre and at the\r\nprovinces. In other words, the law and the Constitution as far as political\r\nrights are concerned should discriminate in favour of the women since as per\r\nthe dicta of the Supreme Court in Shirin Munir (cited above) our Constitutional\r\njurisprudence, as squeezed out from its provisions, provides for a greater protection\r\nfor women and children than the men. Perhaps a case is also made out for\r\ncreating a Ministry or at least an ambassadorship for protection of rights of\r\nwomen.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN-GB\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\u0027\u003e\u003c![if !supportEmptyParas]\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c![endif]\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN-GB\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-ansi-language:EN-GB\u0027\u003e\u003c![if !supportEmptyParas]\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c![endif]\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal\u003e\u003c![if !supportEmptyParas]\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c![endif]\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003c/body\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003c/html\u003e\r\n"