LAHORE: The West Pakistan Assembly today [Jan 18] approved the West Pakistan Suppression of Prostitution (Amendment) Ordinance banning prostitution in the province. The ordinance, which enabled the definition of “brothel” to include any house, part of a house, room or place in which a prostitute resided or carried on, or was likely to carry on, prostitution, of any place or institution where facilities were known to be available for prostitution, was promulgated by the Provincial Governor on Aug 8 last year. Members of the Opposition, who participated in the discussion on the ordinance, bitterly criticised the Government for “its failure to check prostitution”.

According to Maulana Ghulam Ghaus Hazarvi, over 1,00,00,000 acts of adultery were committed in the country every year. Another Opposition Member, Allama Rahmatullah Arshad was of the view that until the causes of adultery and prostitution were removed and deterrent punishment, as provided by Islam, was awarded to the evildoers, the vices could not be stopped. Effective measures, he added, should be taken to stop the moving brothels on the fashionable roads. The House also approved the Land Control (Capital of the Federation) (Repeal) ordinance promulgated by the Provincial Governor on Sept 8 last.

Published in Dawn, January 19th, 2015

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