Islamabad: Pakistani husbands can ‘lightly’ beat their wives if they disobey, according to a controversial recommendation made by a state-affiliated Islamic body in its new women protection bill.

The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) enjoys constitutional status in Pakistan and gives non-binding proposals to the parliament to make laws according to Islam. The controversial alternative bill was prepared after the CII rejected Punjab’s Protection of Women against Violence Act (PPWA) 2015, as un-Islamic.