ISLAMABAD: The Senate Select Committee to consider the Prevention of Witchcraft Bill 2017 on Wednesday decided to send the bill to the upper house, recommending that it be considered for voting, after the committee failed to meet the quorum twice.

A committee meeting scheduled at Parliament House required the participation of at least 10 members, divided equally between the government and opposition. Just three people attended the meeting: chairman Senator Mohammad Ali Khan Saif, Senator Ghous Mohammad Khan Niazi and Senator Dr Jehanzeb Jamaldini.

The mover of the bill, Senator Chaudhry Tanvir Khan, also attended the meeting. In response to a question from Senator Khan, committee secretary Javaid Iqbal said that 13 out of the committee’s 23 members had said they would attend the meeting.

The members in attendance discussed whether to hold another meeting, but all of them, including the bill’s mover, concluded that it was next to impossible to meet the quorum in the current situation and asked whether there was any other way to pass the bill.

Mr Iqbal told the committee that it could withdraw the bill and suggest the Senate chairman discuss it directly in the house and then hold voting.

Senator Khan agreed with the proposal, and said it should be noted in the report sent to the Senate chairman that the Ministry of Religious Affairs has also expressed support for the bill. He added that in the first select committee meeting, during which the chairman as elected, all the members had principally agreed that the bill was in the public interest.

Senator Saif directed the committee secretary to send the bill to the upper house, along with a recommendation to hold a vote on it.

Senator Khan, while speaking to Dawn, said it was unfortunate that the committee members did not attend the meeting because their input could not be included in the bill.

“It is a very important bill, as a number of people lose their lives and others become bankrupt because of people who convince them that black magic can change their lives.

“Practices such as black magic, spells, sorcery, wizardry and other sifli amliyaat, which are offensive to human dignity and life are prevalent these days, and also result in severe financial exploitation and mental agony for victims. Such practices have no place in a civilized society governed by the rule of law,” he said.

The senator added that since such practices are not a criminal offence, “because of which people involved in witchcraft get bail even if they are arrested”.

“I have I have thoroughly studied the matter and drafted a bill which will play an important role to make the lives of people simpler and easier. According to the bill, advertisements for black magic will be banned and painting or publishing an advertisement [will be punishable] with one year in prison and a Rs100,000 fine,” he said.

Senator Khan said the bill also seeks to ban the removal of human remains from graves, and makes the act punishable by seven years in prison and a Rs100,000 fine.

“Some persons sit in the graves, for which the bill suggests three years imprisonment and a Rs100,000 fine. Some persons remove/steal shroud from dead bodies so five years imprisonment is suggested. Two years imprisonment will be for those who take baths on the grave,” he said.

He added that some people protect individuals involved in such practices, for which the bill suggests six months in prison and a Rs50,000 fine.

“A number of persons have contacted me and requested that I do not try to pass the bill because it is Ilm-e-Jaffar, but I have decided to get the bill passed and after passage I will suggest district administrations start a drive against persons involved in witchcraft,” he said.

Published in Dawn, March 8th, 2018