Yesterday, the Regional Assembly of Pakistan's North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) passed the controversial "Hisbah (Hasba)" or "Accountability" Bill creating an Islamic official, called a Mohtasib, to enforce Islamic values and etiquette. The bill also creates a "Hisbah Force", a corps of Islamic morality police, who operate under the direction of the Mohtasib. Spero News yesterday carried an excellent article on the tortuous history of the bill in the NWFP, and on the bill's provisions. Parts of a nearly identical bill passed last July were declared unconstitutional by Pakistan's Supreme Court. However, members of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, a coalition of six Islamist parties, passed the bill again, angered over the bombing of an Islamic seminary last month.
Article 23 of the bill gives extensive jurisdiction to the Mohtasib's office. For example, he is to discourage exhibition of extravagance; discourage beggary; discourage employment of under-age children; remove unnecessary delay in discharge of undisputed civil liabilities; prevent cruelty to animals; prevent misuse of loud-speakers and sectarian speeches; discourage un-Islamic and inhuman customs; check indecent behavior in public places including harassment of women; protect rights of minorities and the sanctity of their religious places; eliminate un-Islamic traditions affecting the rights of women, particularly Honor killings; monitor weights and measures; eliminate bribery; advise those found to be disobedient to their parents; and mediate among parties and tribes in matters pertaining to murders and similar crimes.
Spero News reports that Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf is highly unlikely to permit the governor of NWFP to sign the Hisbah Bill.
UPDATE: Pakistan's Federal Information Minister, Mohammad Ali Durrani, said on Tuesday that the NWFP's Hasba (Hisba) bill would again be referred to the country's Supreme Court if it appears to violate constitutional standards. The bill faces particular opposition from Pakistan's Christian community. (Asia News.it).
UPDATE: On Wednesday, a petition was filed with Pakistan's Supreme Court by Maulvi Iqbal Haider, chairman of Awami Himayat Tehrik, asking the court to restrain the NWFP governor from assenting the recently-passed Hasba Bill. (DAWN).
