From: iview-AT-technologist.com
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1998 09:38:21 -0800
Subject: Woman Judge in Lahore Deprives Woman of Property Rights


I was just sent the article below.  

If women in power were supportive of women (but how can that be in a
true patriarchal context?), then perhaps travesties such as the
following wouldn't occur.  I find women in power no different from their
male counterparts to make snap, erroneous judgements and divide us among
ourselves.  But then, isn't that the foundation on which the patriarchy
firmly stands?

-Manjusree

BEGIN QUOTE
Subject: Bol!: Court punishes woman for denying conjugal right

Dawn 9 November
Court punishes woman for denying conjugal right
 
LAHORE: In a unique decision, a female judge of the Lahore High Court
has ordered confiscation of a woman's property as punishment for her
refusal to submit to husband's conjugal rights, triggering a national
debate.
 
The female civil judge passed the orders on an application by the
aggrieved husband who said his wife had denied him his conjugal right
granted under the religion.Women activists have strongly reacted to the
court's judgment. "It was the fundamental right of a woman to deny or
agree to perform conjugal rights," they maintained.
 
The court, they added, could order the women to grant their husband's
conjugal right but could not implement the same. A former LHC judge,
Khalid Ranjha termed the decision as unique in judicial history and
contrary to the concept of fundamental rights. He said the court order
had turned womenfolk into domestic servants because if a wife would not
obey the orders of her husband, she would be deprived of her property.
Religious scholar Ismail Qureshi also opposed the court order and said
woman's property could not be confiscated for denying the husband his
conjugal right. Dr Javed Iqbal said that in Pakistan in case of women
demanding separation, the husbands would counter them in the courts by
filing suit for their conjugal rights. Advocate Shaista Qaiser said the
court should have ascertained the will of the woman.
END QUOTE