The provincial government of Khyber-Pakhunkhwa has prepared legislation for ban on child marriages and corporal punishment in the province. The law is also promulgated through an ordinance and formal bill in this regard would be tabled in the provincial legislature in the upcoming session of the assembly.
This was stated by Provincial Minister Social Welfare, Sitara Ayaz, Information Minister for Mian Iftikhar Hussein and Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Arshad Abdullah while addressing a press conference here on Thursday. The purpose of the bill is to provide protection, welfare and education of children at risk, the Khyber- Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to set up Child Protection and Welfare Commission headed by Minister for Social Welfare and Women Development.
She said that the proposed commission would be fully authorised and would review all provincial laws, rules and regulations affecting the status and rights of children. She said that the commission would provide technical and other support in the interest of children and would monitor implementation and violation of laws related to child protection.
The commission, she added, would establish, manage and control Child Protection Units at District level that would be headed by District Officer Social Welfare. She said that Child Protection Units would receive and register children at risk who are considered to be in need of protection, would asses the needs of individual children and their families, plan and co-ordinate the provision of service in cash or in kind to meet the assessed needs of children at risk.
Ayaz said that the commission shall appoint child protection officer for each district, who would have powers to register FIR against any person who have committed any offence under this Ordinance. Speaking on the occasion, Provincial Law Minister Barrister Arshad Abdullah said that under section 15 of the Ordinance the government in consultation with Peshawar High Court would notify different courts of sessions as Child Protection Courts that may issue orders for handing over the custody of a child at risk brought before the courts either to his parents or Child Protection Institutions.
He said that the Ordinance provides for protection of Child against Child Marriage besides lay down separate punishment foe sentencing child above the age of 12 and below the age of 15 years.
Law Minister said that the Ordinance also abolished corporal punishment adding that whosoever illegally sells or purchases organs of child shall be guilty of an offence and could be awarded punishment of death sentence or imprisonment for life and shall be liable to fine of up to one million rupees. He said that the commission would be answerable to the Chief Executive Authority of the Province in case of any complaint submitted by any person.
Earlier, talking to media persons Provincial Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain said that Child Protection Units would provide protection to all children under the age of 18 and all the law has been formed in view of our religion and social constraints.
He said that protection, welfare, education, training, maintenance and rehabilitation of children at risk were the basic aim of these units adding that Child Protection and Welfare Ordinance 2010 was a comprehensive law that covers all aspects of child welfare.
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