Civil society organisations on Monday urged the multi-party committee of both houses of the Parliament to recommend the swift enactment of domestic violence bill.
This demand was made during a press conference, said a press release.
The bill has been under debate, revision and modification by committees of the present Parliament for over three years now and around 10 years in all.
Achieving 100% consensus is a noble objective, but we remind the parliamentarians that in a democracy, a simple majority is enough, added the release.
The speakers said rights activists are carrying out lobbying and advocacy activities as per their democratic responsibilities and have always respected parliamentary norms and procedures.
Unfortunately, over the past six days, unnecessary confrontation, confusion and hostility have been caused between civil society representatives and parliamentarians through an absence or distortion of factual clarity, said a speaker. There is also a deliberate provocation by vested interests of those who do not wish for Pakistan’s civil society to work in consonance, harmony and goodwill, he added.
They called upon the National Assembly speaker, the Senate chairman and progressive members of the Parliament to see through the tactics of those elements and foil their designs.
They also urged the parliamentarians not to be swayed by attempts to misuse the bill as a bargaining chip for achieving a consensus and a unanimous vote on the parliamentary joint sitting’s current agendas. Calling upon the media to perform their democratic role, they asked to provide help in highlighting the plight the women.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 10th, 2012.
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