Female Pak legislators condemn pro-polygamy MPA

Lahore, Feb. 20 (ANI): A number of female Pakistani legislators have slammed MPA Samina Khawar Hayat for speaking in favour of a proposed law that allows men to marry for a second, third and fourth time without the consent of their first wife.

On Thursday, outspoken opposition legislator Samina Khawar Hayat shook the House when she called on the Punjab government to amend existing laws to allow men to marry again without the permission of their first wife.

On Friday, opposition legislator Amna Ulfat flayed her colleague's stance, clarifying that what Hayat had said on the House floor were her personal views and did not reflect the PML-Q's stance.

Other female lawmakers, including Nighat Nasir Sheikh, Sajida Mir and the PPP's Faiza Malik, also criticised Hayat - who was not present in the House at that time.

PPP MPA Fozia Behram also criticised Hayat, saying that she had received numerous phone calls from her constituents, criticising Hayat's stand.

She added that irresponsible remarks like this made people consider MPAs as non-serious individuals.

When Hayat reached the House, she demanded the speaker censure all the remarks made by the female parliamentarians and remove them from the House proceedings.

Earlier, the PML-Q lawmaker had said that she won't have any problem if her husband, Khawar Hayat, decides to marry again without her permission.

She was taking part in debate on an adjournment motion, moved by Sheikh Allauddin of the PML-Q dissidents, regarding the recruitment of unmarried women - over the prescribed age of 30 - in government departments.

Speaking on the issue, Samina Khawar Hayat said, "If there is no bar on them marrying again, all of men's frustrations would be reduced, while the women would be able to salvage their honour and lead secure lives". (ANI)