Wiping the slate clean: Implement existing laws before passing new ones, says Roghani

Flays male MPAs for not participating in awareness campaigns

PESHAWAR: Just passing new laws in the provincial assembly is not enough, it is imperative existing laws are implemented, said K-P Assembly Deputy Speaker Mehar Taj Roghani.

She was addressing participants of a round table conference of the seven implementing partners of Citizen Voice Project and lawmakers on legislative governance at a local hotel on Wednesday. The event was organised by Pak Women, a non-profit organisation in collaboration with USAID. Legislators, NGOs and civil society representatives participated in the conference.



Roghani said, “Every government that comes into power ignores laws previously made, which badly affects sustainability of rules.” She said, “Various laws have been passed in the past by different governments but these are not properly implemented and their benefits do not reach the citizens.”

Criticising the male MPAs, the deputy speaker said, “They do not take part in awareness programmes and campaigns held to highlight the matter.” However, she encouraged NGOs to work towards training and awareness of legislators.

Pak Women Executive Director Azra Gul pointed out the aim of holding the meeting was to make parliamentarians more aware of the status quo of laws and their implementation. She said the K-P government has passed many laws but as they were not implemented, citizens never experience how laws can be used to attain their due rights.



Gul also stressed the provincial government should focus more on implementation rather than passing new laws. On the occasion, the members of the Citizen Voice Project from Punjab, Balochistan, Sindh and Gilgit-Baltistan gave their presentations and highlighted the issues of their respective provincial assemblies.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 28^th,  2016.