October 23, 2002	Wednesday	Sha’aban 16,1423

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 22: The government has disapproved the proposed amendment to the Pakistan Penal Code, 1898 for punishment of the offence of molestation with sexual motive at work places, reliable sources said.

The decision to this effect was taken by the cabinet at a meeting held recently. According to the sources, the government was of the view that if the law was approved, it was likely to be misused.

A number of civil society organizations had suggested a code of conduct to be adopted by the government and non-governmental organizations against sexual harassment of women, specially at work places.

The NGOs and CSOs had claimed that the incidents of sexual harassment at work places were increasing, and expressed their concern over the situation. In response, the law and human rights ministry had submitted on September 28 a summary on “Pakistan Penal Code and Code of Criminal Procedure” to the cabinet, which approved the ordinance except the amendment relating to molestation with sexual motive.

An source in the law ministry said, if approved, the law would create a number of uncalled for problems and adversely affect working environment in offices.

It will empower women workers to lodge complaints against their male companions, without having to disclose their identity, hence, creating an atmosphere of distrust at the work places.

Nasreen Azhar of the Action Aid Pakistan, an NGO working on the issue, told this reporter that sexual harassment at work places was a wide spread phenomenon in the country, requiring immediate government attention.

Referring to the code of conduct which the NGO had envisioned for both private and public sector organizations, she said: “We have proposed a women workers specific mechanism whereby they will be able to lodge complaints, even against their bosses, without revealing her identity”.

She said in a country, where, already, few women dared to work in a male-dominated atmosphere, it was imperative that they were encouraged through some constitutional cover.

Saima Qadeer of Islamabad Women’s Welfare Agency, another NGO working on the subject, suggested that special committees should be set up in the private and public sector organizations, where women workers could lodge complaints against harassment without revealing their identity.

She maintained that the military regime was hesitant in approving the proposed law and was employing delaying tactics. “If the law is not approved, we will not hesitate to go into litigation,” she added.

In a recently held meeting with NGO representatives, the government had asked for more time to further look into the issue but, “I am not hopeful of any positive development, since the regime fears backlash from the so-called extremist quarters working in the country,” Ms Qadeer said.