ISLAMABAD: The National Advisory Forum of Aurat Foundation noted with concern the news item that appeared in a section of press about the Council of Islamic Ideology’s proposed “protection of women against violence bill”. The proposed bill asks women to stay away from public life, not receive foreign delegates and for women nurses not to attend to male patients. This bill suggests that a husband should be allowed to ‘lightly beat’ his wife if she does not obey the commands and defies his desires. It further suggests that if a woman does not observe hijab, interacts with strangers and speaks loudly, she deserves beating. In the meeting Aurat Foundation members strongly rejected the proposed bill and termed it unconstitutional, illegal and in violation of women’s rights and fundamental human rights. The forum further expressed that it considers Parliament as the only body to propose and make laws and expects parliament to withhold all such attempts to curb women’s rights in the name of religion. The members of the National Advisory Forum include current and former ministers of women development, current and former chairs of the National and Provincial Commissions on the Status of Women, retired judges, women’s rights activists, MNAs, MPAs, senators and academics. Member National Assembly Munaza Hassan said in this context women in our society already battened up why Maulana Sherani going to legitimize it. Bill proposed by the CII against Punjab Government Women Protection Bill (WPB) has sparked outrage among the civil society and women organizations wherein it is suggested to keep away the women from public life. The women organizations regretted that the CII proposed bill has allowed husbands to subject their wives to light beating and disallowed the female nurse to provide health care to male patient. Woman is getting on the nerves of Maulana Sherani, they added. CII also demanded that provision incorporated in family laws for seeking permission from first wife for second marriage should be deleted. Human Rights Commission has described this proposed bill an attempt to open new front against the women. Maulana Sherani looks unaware of the concept of Ijtehad. In terms of women problems he seems to revert to the era when there was no concept of scientific inventions and even Edison had not invented bulb and people used to travel on camels and horses. If Maulana is so fond of reverting to the past then he should start travelling on camels and horses. He is benefitting from scientific inventions and modern technology fully and on the other hand he is not prepared to accept DNA test as basic evidence in rape cases, the commission stated. Parliament should not allow anyone to encroach upon women rights in the name of religion, commission stressed. Social worker Rabia Hadi said 97 per cent parliamentarians are Muslims and they legislate as well. Then why there is any need of CII, she questioned. Under article 25, women enjoy equal rights with men, she said.