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KARACHI: Female members of the Sindh Assembly on Wednesday unanimously decided to pass the Domestic Violence Against Women and Children Bill 2012 in its next session scheduled for March.
The legislators, in a consultative meeting organized by the Sindh Directorate of Women Development and Legislative Watch Group of Aurat Foundation, extensively discussed different clauses of the bill.
It was agreed that “Domestic Violence,” would be treated as a criminal offense and that the perpetrators of the crime, though usually but not necessarily husbands, if proved guilty, would be tried with imprisonment and a hefty fine.
The legislators, rising above their political affiliations, expressed their satisfaction that no less than five bills presented by them in their individual capacities, since 2009, had finally been given a consolidated shape and would be presented by the provincial government as a consensus piece of legislation.
“We wish if this could be passed on the eve of International Women's Day that falls on March 8,” said Malka Khan, a senior activist associated with Aurat Foundation.
Sindh Minister for Women Development, Tauqir Fatima Bhutto on the occasion agreed with MPAs from PPP, MQM and PML-F that efforts would be simultaneously made to improve public understanding about the crime.
The meeting was attended by deputy speaker of the provincial assembly, Shehla Raza and members including Nusrat Sahar Abbasi (PML-F), Farheen Mughal, Kulsoom Chandio, Humaira Alwani, Rasheeda Panwhar and Shama Arif Mithani from PPP, Zarine Majeed, Shahnaz Saifuddin, Naheed Begum, Sabra Sultana and Husn Ara from MQM.
