Govt may introduce law to protect marginalised groups, communities

Disabled persons, transgenders and minorities will be able to file complaints against violation of their rights

ISLAMABAD: The government is set to introduce a law to ensure protection of marginalised communities and for that purpose a draft has been finalised by the human rights ministry for the Tribunal for Disadvantaged Persons Bill, 2016.

Disabled persons, transgender people and minorities will be able to file complaints against violation of their rights at the proposed tribunals, according to the draft of the bill available with The Express Tribune.



Human rights ministry’s legal consultant Sharafat Ali Chaudhry, who played a key role in the drafting the bill, told The Express Tribune that the draft has been sent to cabinet division for approval. From there it will be sent to the law and justice ministry and finally to parliament, he said.

According to the document, the Tribunal for Disadvantaged Person will have nine members including a chairman and it will hear complaints of marginalised people.

The chairman of the tribunal will be a retired high court judge and the remaining members will be legal experts. The panel will have at least two women and two minorities member.



Legal powers

According to the draft, the tribunal will have the powers of civil court defined in Code of Civil Procedure Act, 1908. It will have the power to summon witnesses, examine them under oath, order any documents, receive evidence on affidavits and requisition public record.

Function and power

As per the proposed draft, the tribunal will have the powers to inquire into human rights violations, abetment or negligence in the prevention of such violation. Similarly, the tribunal shall have the power to require any person to furnish information or to produce documents relevant to the subject matter of an inquiry.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 15^th, 2016.