KP PA adopts Enforcement of Women Rights Bill 2011

RECORDER REPORT

PESHAWAR: Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Thursday passed The Khyber-Pakhunkhwa Enforcement of Women Rights Bill, 2011, to protect and secure women's right to ownership of the property in the province.

The Bill introduced by PPP woman MPA, Noor Sahar, in the provincial assembly on December 29, 2011, was passed after amendment to its Clause-4.

The preamble of the bill said that the Islamic Sharia provides equal guarantee for the protection of life and property of men and women while the Constitution of Pakistan, 1973, and section 5 of the Khyber-Pakhtukhwa Shari Act, 2003, enjoins upon the government to legislature with respect to the protection of the said right.

It further said that the Sharia gives due respect to the women in society and guarantees their right to ownership and whereas the rights to the ownership of women is at stake in the society and such rights are violated by means of coercion, fraud, fabrication, forgery, cheating and it is necessary to protect and secure the said rights of women in the society.

The act may be called Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Enforcement of Women Ownership Rights Act, 2011, and extends to the whole of the Khyber-Pakhtukhwa Province and shall come into force at once.

The act said that no person shall abridge, violate, curtail or obstruct the right to ownership or possession of a woman, nor shall he dispossess any woman of her property save in accordance with law.

According to the act whoever contravenes or abets in the contravention of the provisions of section 3 shall be punishable with imprisonment of either description for a term not exceeding of five years and fine not exceeding fifty thousand rupees: Provided that this punishment shall be in addition to the punishment provided by any other law for the time being in force for such offence.

Whenever a person is convicted of an offence under sub-section (1) of the bill, the court shall handover possession of the property, on account of which the person has been so convicted to the rightful owner.

Whenever, a woman files a suite, the court shall decide the case in six months and the judgment and decree of the court shall be implemented by the court through local police in the supervision of the court within one month of the decision of the case, failing which the said officer shall be charged under section 5 of the act. The offence under section 3 of the act shall be punishable as provided under section 4.

Meanwhile, Dr. Faiza Rasheed, another PPP woman MPA introduced Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Labour Laws Application on Workmen Bill, 2012, in the assembly.

The Deputy Speaker, Khushdil Khan Advocate, who later presided over the proceedings of the House, adjourned the proceedings till Friday 4:00pm.