The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) has accepted a proposal, submitted by one of its members, to approve a bill for protection of men's rights on the lines of the Women Protection Bill. Through a letter to the Chairman CII Muhammad Khan Sherani, Council Member Sahibzada Zahid Mohammad Qasmi has requested for protection of men's rights on the lines of women rights.

The Chairman CII on Tuesday in the meeting of the Council has formally accepted the request of the member. If approved, the bill will be forwarded from the constitutional body to the Parliament, though there is no obligation on the legislature to consider the CII recommendations. The CII is a constitutional body that advises the legislature whether or not a certain law is repugnant to Islam, the Holy Quran or Sunnah.

The Council meeting deliberated upon eight agenda items including Women Protection Bill, men protection bill, nation-wide discussion on Pakistan's participation in the Hague convention on children rights, national policy on interfaith harmony, Hindu marriage bill and others.

Sherani said that he has invited the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to attend the meeting of the Council, but the latter doesn't have even time for meeting with his ministers. He said for several months, he has been trying to meet the Prime Minister to present him the recommendations of the Council, but the PM could not hold a meeting with him. After the Council meeting, Qasmi talking to reporters requested the Council to make recommendations for men protection bill on the lines of Women Protection Bill.

"Some women in Pakistan torture men, and force them out of their house. Islam grants rights to men as well and in this society those rights are being violated." Qasmi added.

Defending men's rights, Qasmi said, "Some women call their brothers, fathers and other relatives to take violent measures against their husbands. In various districts of Punjab, several cases have come forth where men's nails have been pulled out or their hands and feet have been cut off."

Many such cases have been lodged with various police stations across the country, he said. "If a man forces his wife out of the house, there are shelter homes available for her to go there. But the state has made no such provisions for men," he maintained.

He said that as a member of the CII, he had written a letter to the Chairman urging him the matter be taken up for debate and recommendations in the light of the Holy Quran and Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). "We support the rights of women but men should be granted their rights as well," he added.