ISLAMABAD: A meeting of a Senate select committee called to discuss a bill against child labour was postponed due to lack of quorum on Thursday.

Other than the chairman, only three of the 24 members of the committee attended the meeting. Chairman Mir Kabeer Ahmed Shahi, senators Rehman Malik, Pervaiz Rasheed and Sehar Kamran waited for the other members for over 40 minutes.

Secretary Committee Javed Iqbal pointed out that the quorum was only complete if five parliamentarians each from the government and opposition were attending.

It was, therefore, decided to postpone the meeting.

Three out of 24 Senators attend committee meeting to discuss bill on child labour restrictions

“It is unfortunate that the parliamentarians did not bother to attend a meeting on such an important issue. The committee room should have been full but we could not even meet the quorum. I will take up the matter with Senate Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani to ensure the availability of the senators because otherwise we will never have five senators each from the government and opposition here,” Senator Shahi said.

He asked the committee staff if Senator Rabbani was in his office, and when they said he was, Mr Shahi decided to go and meet him.

“I will request Mr Rabbani to play his role in ensuring the attendance of senators in the meeting because such an important bill should be passed before the next elections of the upper house,” he told Dawn.

The meeting of the select committee was called to consider a bill titled ‘The Islamabad Restriction on Employment of Children 2017’. There are 25 members of the committee, including the chairman.

Senator Kamran said she had been pursuing the issue for two years, especially after the incident of a 10-year-old maid who was allegedly tortured in the house of a serving judge.

The senator said she had been trying to ensure that children were protected from all kinds of abuse.

“Many parents cannot afford to give their children education and they make them work and help with household expenses. Child labour is banned in the country but the laws in this regard cannot be implemented. I suggest that every child should be registered with the government and the rules of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) be followed,” she said.

Senator Kamran said the bill guarantees that every child will get education and so they will be saved from child labour. She said child labour, in many cases, leads to the sexual abuse.

“According to some estimates, about 12.4 million children in Pakistan work. We have to make this country child labour free. According to the ILO, in developing countries, children up to 14 years of age are considered children while those below 15 are considered children in developed countries,” she said.

Expressing concern regarding the absence of senators in the meeting, she said that even the chief justice has given an observation that parliamentarians should focus on legislation.

Senator Rehman Malik said child labour was banned in Pakistan but the challenge was the implementation of the law.

“A bill regarding child rights has been passed by the National Assembly which has been clubbed with the bill being discussed in Senate and has been presented before the select committee for consensus. This is a very important bill as it ensures giving children their rights,” he said.

“A large number of children work in coal mines and factories where their health is also at risk. The upper house has done a number of legislations but it is regrettable that today only three of the 24 members of the committee were present,” he said.Senator Shahi suggested that the media bring up the matter of senators not attending the meeting as this is how they will start participating.

“I will also take the matter up with Senator Rabbani to ensure the presence of the members,” he said.

Published in Dawn, February 9th, 2018