Conservative Islamic leaders in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province have introduced a bill aimed at ensuring what it called "Islamic values" are observed.
Opposition lawmakers immediately denounced the bill, describing it as an attempt to create a Taleban-style parallel judicial system.
Under the proposed law, a religious watchdog would be appointed to enforce Islamic values in public places. The bill also calls for a a religious "ombudsman" to "supervise the media."
The plan has drawn comparisons with the Taleban's religious police in Afghanistan, who during their 1996 to 2001 rule imposed such punishments as beating women who appeared in public without veils.
Many Taleban members were allegedly trained in the religious schools of this Pakistani province.
The province's ruling alliance of religious parties has enough seats in the assembly to see the controversial bill through.
Opposition lawmakers immediately denounced the bill, describing it as an attempt to create a Taleban-style parallel judicial system.
Under the proposed law, a religious watchdog would be appointed to enforce Islamic values in public places. The bill also calls for a a religious "ombudsman" to "supervise the media."
The plan has drawn comparisons with the Taleban's religious police in Afghanistan, who during their 1996 to 2001 rule imposed such punishments as beating women who appeared in public without veils.
Many Taleban members were allegedly trained in the religious schools of this Pakistani province.
The province's ruling alliance of religious parties has enough seats in the assembly to see the controversial bill through.