The Senate on Tuesday passed another pro-women bill to provide financial and legal assistance to distressed women languishing in various jails of the country.
Leader of the House Syed Nayyer Hussain Bokhari, on behalf of Adviser to the Prime Minister on Human Rights Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar moved the bill, Women in Distress and Detention Fund (Amendment) Bill 2011, to amend Women in Distress and Detention Fund Act 1996.
According to the statement of objects and reasons of the bill, the Human Rights Wing of the Ministry of Law, Justice and Human Rights was administering the fund under an act of parliament. Now, the Ministry of Human Rights has been established as a separate entity with effect from November 3, 2008, and the subject fund was transferred to the Ministry of Human Rights.
It is pointed out that Ministry of Human Rights was not in a position to operate the fund without necessary amendments in Women Distress and Detention Fund Act 1996, and the bill is aimed at the making functional the fund, as it is beneficial for all classes of women throughout the country.
The Senate also passed The Islamabad High Court (Amendment) Bill, 2011. The bill was meant for increasing pecuniary (monetary) jurisdiction of the original site of the Islamabad High Court from Rs 10 million to Rs 100 million. Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Moula Baksh Chandio moved the bill.
Meanwhile, three reports were also laid in the House. Functional Committee on Problems of Less Developed Areas Chairman Senator Dr Abdul Malik presented a report of the committee for the period from November 2009 to July 2011, Standing Committee on Communications Chairman Mir Wali Muhammad Badini presented a report of the committee for the period August 2010 to August 2011 and the standing committee on commerce chairman presented a report for the period October 2009 to June 2011.
CCP urges president to approve pro-woman bills
LAHORE: Praising the smooth passage of two pro-women bills by the Senate, the Concerned Citizens of Pakistan (CCP) on Tuesday urged the president to approve the bills and make the laws part of a statute book before the new year. According to a statement issued by the CCP, the bills passed by the Senate are now just short of presidential approval. Protecting women from forced marriages, enabling them to receive their share in inheritance and preventing pain, injury, and disfigurement of women by acid attacks are essential safeguards of female members of a civilised, tolerant society,. It said the media should play its role by raising awareness about women’s rights protected by these laws, by reporting illegal customary practices, persuading law enforcement agencies to take notice of such crimes, and motivate police to arrest and prosecute perpetrators. Members of the CCP urged the parliamentarians to set examples in their own constituencies by vigilantly monitoring the conduct of their constituents in this regard. This will ensure implementation of these laws and earn them the votes of the women, the CCP release said. CCP Chairperson Nasira Iqbal said, “The real guarantees of the protection of women are demonstration of respect for their rights by the political leaders who can then deserve to be elected as role models”. Staff Report
