NA panel recommends stricter punishment for child abusers

Also okays bill concerning fair trail for accused as a fundamental right


Qadeer Tanoli October 25, 2017
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ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Interior on Tuesday passed three bills, including two seeking amendment to the criminal law – with one recommending stricter punishment for child abusers and the other aiming to give a chance of fair trail to the accused as a fundamental right.

The third bill passed by the parliamentary committee was ‘The Islamabad Capital Territory Prohibition of Employment of Children Bill, 2017’.  All the bills were moved by opposition members.

Mussarat Ahmad Zeb of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) moved ‘The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill 2017’, seeking amendment to sections 292C, 377B, Act XLV of 1860.

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The ‘Objects and Reasons’ of the bill maintains that recent events relating to abuse of children throughout the country have necessitated that tougher punishment shall be doled out to the perpetrators, insisting that current penalties are less compared to the magnitude of the crime.

The bill aims to increase the punishment of child pornography and sexual abuse of minors. It seeks imprisonment of not less than 14 years or more than 20 years and with fine which shall not be less than one million rupees for anyone found guilty of being involved in child pornography and sexual abuse of children.

However, an official of the law ministry opposed the bill on the ground that stricter punishment may not be the only solution to the issue.

To this, Sher Akbar Khan said the law ministry was opposing the bill without stating appropriate reasons.

Meanwhile, the committee also passed SA Iqbal Quadri’s amendment sought in the criminal law which aims to give a chance of fair trail to the accused as a fundamental right.

According to the ‘Objects and Reasons’ of the bill, fair trial cannot be achieved unless copy of material or evidence which the prosecution intends to produce during trial in court against the accused is provided by those accusing the person.

“A certified copy of any report, all such statements recorded under section 161 and 164 and all documents forwarded under this section shall, on application, be furnished to the accused within seven days from the date of such application,” the bill stated.

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Despite the government’s reluctance, the committee also passed ‘The Islamabad Capital Territory Prohibition of Children Employment Bill, 2017’ which was moved by Shazia Marri of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

The mover, while highlighting the importance of the bill, stated that all provinces already had legislation in the context, but the Islamabad Capital Territory lacked such a law.

“After surfacing of Tayyaba’s case and another case of the same nature, there is a need for specific legislation for the ICT which prohibits employment of children in the capital territory,” said Marri.

She said the bill had already been delayed and needed adoption as “it is comprehensive in nature and also unifies six to seven other related laws in it”.

However, State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry was of the view that four laws were already in the pipeline which would club 73 laws pertaining to the ICT. He stated that a similar law was passed by the Senate as well.

Panel member Naeema Kishwer Khan also opposed the bill and registered her dissent.

However, other members of the panel supported the bill and decided that it should be passed by the National Assembly.

Committee chairman Rana Shamim Ahmad Khan also issued directives for formation of a committee comprising honest officers of the FIA to respond to reservations of any province pertaining to matters related to immigration and exit control list (ECL).

Another bill ‘The Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government (Amendment) 2017’ moved by Asad Umar of the PTI was also considered and deferred till next meeting of the panel.

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