Senate approves bill to address human trafficking

Rejects US decision to move Israel embassy to Jerusalem

ISLAMABAD: The Senate on Tuesday passed and approved the law to deal with human trafficking, proposing harsher punishments especially in cases involving women and children victims.

Promulgated as an ordinance earlier, the Senate passed it as a bill prescribing seven years of imprisonment and a fine of one million rupees to a person who would recruit, transport another person for compelled labour or commercial sex by using force, fraud or coercion.

If the office of trafficking is committed against children or women the perpetrator would be punished with imprisonment which may extend to ten years or fine up to one million rupees or with both.



Criminals will be punished with imprisonment which may extend to 15 years and a fine of up to two million rupees in cases where the offence would involve serious injury, life-threatening illness, or death of the victim or another person, or the offence involves a criminal group, or confiscation of any travel document of the victim.

A victim will not be criminally liable for an offence under this law and could become a witness in the case. Police shall investigate offences. However, if the offence involves transportation of the victim out of Pakistan, FIA will investigate.

The offence shall be cognizable and non-bailable. The federal or the provincial government would take appropriate measures to ensure that a victim, witness of an offence under this ordinance, or any related person is provided adequate protection if their safety is at risk.

The law also prescribes that courts may conduct proceedings in camera, away from the presence of the media and public, restrict access to records of proceedings, permit evidence of the victim or witness behind a screen or through video link, or use of other communication technology.

The court may also direct the offender to pay compensation to the victim. The law also says that federal government may develop awareness and prevention programs to check this menace.

“The Gas Infrastructure Development Cess (Amendment) Bill, 2018”

The Senate also passed the resolution strongly condemning the atrocities committed by the Israelis occupation forces against the innocent and defenceless people of Palestine, resulting in 70 children, women and men martyred and hundreds injured.



It said that the Senate rejects the US decision to move the American Embassy to Jerusalem since it is a violation of international law and the United Nations Charter, which has sparked a popular uprising. The Senate condemns the state terrorism of Israel and reaffirms the support and solidarity of Pakistan to the just cause of Palestine.

“We also strongly feel it is no coincidence that Israel in occupied Palestine and India in occupied Kashmir are committing crimes against humanity, killing defenceless civilians and willfully violating UN Resolutions, and both countries are trying to change the demography of occupied Palestine and occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

The Senate urges the government to coordinate with the international community to raise these human rights violations globally with a view to seeking a final settlement of both Palestine and Kashmir disputes in accordance with the United Nations resolutions,” the resolution reads.