The National Assembly has passed 'The Zainab Alert, Response and Recovery Bill, 2020' to curb criminal activities against children in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), besides five other bills, including four ordinances in the form of bills, which were withdrawn by the government on Friday as the opposition had staged strong protest on their passage.
The National Assembly session, chaired by the deputy speaker on November 10, 2019, amid strong protest of the opposition members had passed as many as nine ordinances in the form of bills without referring them to relevant standing committees of the House. After this legislation, the tug of war between the government and the opposition had been started and opposition had submitted a no-confidence motion on the National Assembly Secretariat against Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri. However, after involvement of the National Assembly speaker, the government had decided to withdraw the ordinances after negotiation with opposition members.
The House also passed a motion to withdraw six ordinances including 'The Letters of Administration and Succession Certificates Ordinance, 2019, The Legal Aid and Justice Authority Ordinance, 2019, The Enforcement of Women's Property Rights Ordinance, 2019, The Superior Courts (Court Dress and Mode of Address) Order (Repeal) Ordinance, 2019, The Benami Transaction (Prohibition) Amendment Ordinance, 2019, The National Accountability (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019.'
'The Zainab Alert, Response and Recovery Bill, 2020' was moved by Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari which envisages establishment of Zainab Alert, Response and Recovery Agency (ZARRA) where child missing case will be reported and it will generate an automatic alert. The Lower House of the Parliament unanimously passed the Bill.
The Zainab Alert, Response and Recovery Bill, 2020 would only be extended to the Islamabad capital territory. But after this legislation, all the provincial assemblies would make such legislation to impose this law across the country.
The trial under this Act shall be completed within three months. According to clause 13 of the Bill, "For the purposes of this Act, whoever kidnaps or abducts any person under the age of eighteen years in order that such person may be murdered or subjected to grievous hurt, or slavery, rape, or that such person may be so disposed of as to be put in danger of being murdered or subjected to grievous hurt, or slavery or rape shall be punished with imprisonment for life or with rigorous imprisonment which may extend to fourteen years but shall not be less than ten years."
The clause 14 of the Bill says, "Whoever kidnaps or abducts any child under the age of eighteen years with the intention of taking dishonestly any moveable property from the person of such child, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to fourteen years, and with fine of one million rupees."
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan tabled five bills (four ordinances in the form of bills) including 'The Letters of Administration and Succession Certificates Bill, 2020, The Legal Aid and Justice Authority Bill, 2020, The Enforcement of Women's Property Rights Bill, 2019, The Superior Courts (Court Dress and Mode of Address) Order (Repeal) Bill, 2020 and The ICT Rights of Persons with Disability Bill, 2019' in the House. The House passed these bills with majority.
While speaking on 'The Zainab Alert, Response and Recovery Bill, 2020,' Dr Shireen Mazari said a national action plan has been prepared against child abuse and molestation which will be launched before the end of this month. She said a registry of convicted sexual offenders is also being prepared with the cooperation of FIA.
Responding to calling attention notice, Minister for Power Umer Ayub said the government is taking action against power pilferage. He regretted that previous governments did not pay any attention to check the power theft which resulted in increase of line losses.
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