Islamic council proposes allowing men to 'lightly beat' their wives if they do not 'dress as he desires', refuse to have sex, or fail to take a bath after their period

The Council of Islamic Ideology has proposed allowing a man to 'lightly beat' his wife if she does not 'dress as he desires', refuses to have sex, or fails to take a bath after her period.

The 20-member council is a constitutional body of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, but can only advise the government rather than make laws.

Its latest proposals come as part of its own women protection bill, after it rejected Punjab province's controversial Protection of Women against Violence Act - branding it un-Islamic.