Bhutto’s daughter slams Pakistan’s controversial Ramzan bill

ISLAMABAD: Bakhtawar BhuttoZardari, the elder daughter of former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, has severely criticised a parliamentary bill which seeks to punish restaurants and hotels for serving food in the day during the holy month of Ramzan, which starts later in May.

Under the Ehtram-e-Ramazan Ordinance, 1981, it is illegal for Muslims to eat or drink in public in the day during Ramzan. Earlier this week, the Senate Standing committee on Religious Affairs unanimously approved the Ehteram-e-Ramazan (Amendment) Bill, 2017, which increases punishment and fines for eating or drinking in public.

“People are going to die from heat stroke and dehydration with this ridiculous law. Not everyone is able. This is not Islam,” BhuttoZardari tweeted.

She later elaborated, writing, “We are more than capable of resisting temptation and keeping our fasts.”

She insisted that the law was outrageous as it failed to consider that not everyone will be fasting in the month of Ramzan. “Not everyone in Pakistan will be fasting —Children in school, the elderly, people with medical issues —Should we arrest them for drinking water?” she tweeted.

Two years ago, a severe heat wave swept through Pakistan, with temperatures soaring as high as 49 °C. The high temperatures resulted in the deaths of about 2,000 people from dehydration and heat stroke. Many of those who died were fasting for Ramzan.

The crisis prompted some clerics to advise people to stop fasting if their health is at risk.