Senate panel mulls torture, custodial death bill

Incidents of sexual harassment at a school in Lahore also discussed

ISLAMABAD:

The Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights on Wednesday discussed detail the Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention and Punishment Bill, 2020, introduced in the House by Senator Sherry Rehman.

It also took up the incidents of sexual harassment at a school in Lahore and the abduction of journalist Matiullah Jan.

Chaired by Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokar, the meeting was attended by Senator Sherry Rehman, Senator Keshoo Bai, Senator Muhammad Usman Khan Kakar, Senator Khalid Shaheen Butt and senior officers from the human rights ministry, interior ministry, Punjab police and Islamabad police. Minister of Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari was also present on the occasion.

The meeting commenced with a briefing of the principal of the school and the Punjab secretary education on the incidents of sexual harassment.

The Punjab police also presented its opinion on the case. The committee expressed its displeasure over the absence of the Parent Teacher Association and the lack of efforts to promote anti-harassment laws on the campus.

The participants of the meeting stressed the need for the school to ensure that anti-harassment laws were displayed on the walls of the school and its 75 other campuses so that everyone was aware of what they stated and the students felt secure.

A very active PTA with ample powers must be formed and legislation must be formulated to prevent harassment and bullying on campus. The Punjab education secretary informed the committee that a new law encompassing all these issues was being formulated.

The panel also took up the issue of the abduction of journalist Matiullah Jan and emphasised the importance of bringing the people responsible for the act to justice.

The Islamabad police chief was directed to thoroughly investigate the matter and submit a report to the committee within two weeks.

The panel took strict notice of the absence of the interior secretary as he had to present a briefing on the issuance of a notification pursuant to the cabinet’s decision declaring domestic child labour a hazardous employment.

Discussing the Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention and Punishment Bill, 2020, the committee recommended some amendments and assured that after their incorporation the bill would be passed in the next meeting.