Daughter of Benazir Bhutto condemns jail terms for people eating during Ramadan

Bakhtawar Bhutto warns that people could die as a result of strict new penalties for those who eat publicly during Ramadan

Bakhtawar Bhutto, daughter of Pakistan's former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, says the stricter penalties are ‘not Islam’ (@BakhtawarBZ Twitter )

The daughter of Pakistan's former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto condemned a "ridiculous law" banning people from eating publicly during Ramadan by declaring: "This is not Islam." Bakhtawar Bhutto, 27, warned that people may die from dehydration as a result of the ban, which has effect during daylight hours throughout the fasting month.

The law has existed in Pakistan since 1981, but a new amendment has introduced stricter penalties that could see people jailed for up to three months for a violation.

Broadcasters or cinemas that breach the rules could be fined more than £3,700 after Pakistan's Senate Standing Committee on Religious Affairs unanimously approved the bill on Wednesday.Hotel owners will also face increased fines of up to £185 for an offence, according to Pakistani news outlet Dawn.

Reacting to the news on Twitter, Ms Bhutto said: "People are going to die from heat stroke and dehydration with this ridiculous law. Not everyone is able. This is not Islam.

"Not everyone in Pakistan will be fasting – children in school, the elderly, people with medical issues – Should we arrest them for drinking water?"

The campaigner is the eldest daughter of former President Asif Ali Zardari and former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who was assassinated in Rawalpindi in Punjab, Pakistan, in December 2007.