Twitter reacts to Domestic Violence Bill under review by CII

Adviser to the Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan urged on Monday National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser to refer the bill criminalising domestic abuse to the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) for its opinion, as objections were raised on it after it was passed from the NA and returned with amendments from the Senate.

Sharing the explanation, Awan said that in the application of the clause to the personal law of any Muslim sect, the expression “Quran and Sunnah” shall mean the Quran and Sunnah as interpreted by the sect.

The suggested bill was lauded by the general public for its extensive pointers. Many took to social media and expressed their concerns over the recent development as suggested by Awan. 

Osman Khalid Butt among others talked about how the bill is being opposed.

The bill states that the act of domestic violence shall be punishable with imprisonment of a maximum period of three years and not less than six months and a fine of Rs100,000 and minimum of Rs20,000 shall be paid as compensation to the aggrieved person. Aiding and abetting carries the same punishment.

Apprising the NA speaker that the bill was passed by the lower house and transmitted to the upper house wherefrom it has been referred back to the NA as passed with amendments, Awan said: “Now the Bill is the property of National Assembly for further proceedings on it.”

The bill aims to establish an effective system of protection, relief and rehabilitation of women, children, the elderly and other vulnerable persons against domestic violence. It also aims to provide relief to victims of domestic violence who are in domestic relationships and are related to each other by consanguinity, marriage and kinship etc.

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