The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Domestic Violence against Women (Prevention and Protection) Bill 2019 was tabled in provincial assembly on Monday to protect women from sexual abuse, psychological abuse and economic abuse and stalking and other connected matters.
After the tabling of the bill, Inayatullah Khan of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and Maulana Lutf-ur-Rehman of JUI-F took the floor requesting the Speaker Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani for avoiding haste in the passage of the draft bill.
Inayatullah Khan said that they are going to present amendments in the bill in light of Qur'aan and Sunnah while Maulana Lutf-ur-Rehman called for referring the bill to a parliamentary committee to discuss it in detail. He reminded that a similar bill was also introduced in Punjab Assembly, which was later withdrawn.
Defending the bill, the Provincial Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Sultan Mohammad Khan assured that the government will not show in any haste in the passage of the bill and invited all members of the house particularly opposition and women legislators to present amendments for inclusion in the law.
Under the proposed law, no person shall commit, aid and abet for the commission of the act of domestic violence and any person who commits such an act shall be deemed to have committed an offence under this Act and shall be liable to be punished for such imprisonment and fine as provided for the said offence in the Pakistan Penal Code 1860.
After the commencement of the Act, the provincial government would constitute, District Protection Committee at district levels with Deputy Commissioner of the concerned district as chairperson, Executive District Health Officer, District Social Welfare Officer, District Public Prosecutor, District Police Officer, four persons of civil society, residing in the district and Chairperson of the District Committee on Status of Women district concerned as members.
For seeking assistance under the Act, the victim or her guardian would file application to committee, which is bound to provide reasonable assistance to the victim.
Any person become guilty would be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months or penalty which may extend to Rs30,000 or both.
Meanwhile, a question of Inayatullah Khan of Jamaat-e-Islami demanding clinical audit, earnings and recruitment in Medical Teaching Institute (MTIs) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was referred to committee concerned.
Similarly, a call attention notice of Inayatullah Khan was also admitted for debate on merged tribal district with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The Speaker referred the adjournment motion of Nighat Orakzai regarding the expelling students from Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed Cadet College Swabi to Standing Committee on Elementary Education with directives of presenting report within 10 days.
Responding to a call attention notice of Sardar Aurangzeb Nalota, the Provincial Minster for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Sultan Mohammad Khan directed the police for increase patrolling while Special Branch police was also directed to monitor the situation to stop street crimes in the province.
The house also unanimously adopted a resolution of Nighat Yasmin Orakzai for issuance blue passports to all family members of the members of KP assembly like members of the National Assembly and Senate.
The house also unanimously demanded the shifting of the Headquarters of WAPDA and Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) from Lahore to federal capital Islamabad.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ministers (Salaries, Allowances and Privileges) (Amendment) Bill 2019 was also tabled in the house.
Later, the Deputy Speaker adjourned the proceeding till today (Tuesday) 10:00 A.M.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019

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