Islamabad, Aug 25 - Pakistan's just-enacted law against domestic violence will increase family feuds and divorces and could also result in old, weak and indisposed men being made to suffer, says the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII).

Saying that the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Bill that parliament passed earlier this month was ambiguous and contained few reforms, the council held that the bill assumed only women and children could be victims of domestic violence, ignoring the possibility of old, weak and indisposed men also suffering.

'This is also against the cardinal principle that everyone is equal before the law and must be treated on a par.' the council said in a statement, lamenting that it was not consulted before bringing the law.

The council, a constitutional body that advises the legislature on whether or not a certain law is repugnant to Islam, was also upset over the police being given a greater role in family affairs.

This would encourage corruption and bribery and give the police the right to trample on the sanctity of the home.

The National Assembly, the lower house of Pakistan's parliament, Aug 3 unanimously passed a bill against domestic violence to protect women, children and families vulnerable to crimes at home.