Public Interest legislation

07 Aug, 2016

Senate of Pakistan passed the following mostly Private Members Bill pertaining to matters of national and public interest. The Pakistan Penal Code (Amendment) Bill, 2014: to provide a stringent law to safeguard the sanctity of corpse and to ensure that culprits are taken to task. (Private Member Bill moved by Senator Colonel (R) Syed Tahir Hussain Mashhadi).
The Emigration (Amendment) Bill, 2014: to provide a forum for protection legitimate property rights of overseas Pakistanis in their absence. (Private Members Bill moved by Senator Moula Bakhsh Chandio) The Torture, Custodial Death and Custodial Rape (Prevention and Punishment) Bill, 2015: to provide for the prevention of and protection of Pakistani citizens and of all other persons for the time being in Pakistan from all acts of torture, custodial death and custodial rape. (Private Member Bill moved by Senator Farhatullah Babar)
The Anti-Rape Laws (Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill, 2015: to address lacunas in the existing laws applicable to rape cases and to improve conviction rates and bring the culprits within the ambit of the law. (Private Member Bill moved by Senator Syeda Sughra Imam) The Anti-Honour Killings Laws (Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill, 2015: to deter and prevent honour killings in Pakistan. (Private Member Bill moved by Senator Syeda Sughra Imam)
Islamabad Mandatory Vaccination and Protection of Health Workers Bill, 2015: to make the vaccination for universal immunization of children mandatory and to protect the health workers designated for immunization programs. (Private Member Bill moved by SenatorAyesha Raza Farooq)
The Domestic Workers (Employment Rights) Bill, 2016: to protect the rights of the domestic workers, to regulate their employment and conditions of service and to provide them social security, safety, health facility and welfare. (Private Member Bill moved by Senator Osman Saifullah) The Un-attended Orphans (Rehabilitation and Welfare) Bill, 2016: to provide for the rehabilitation, protections, parentage and welfare of the un-attended orphan children. (Private Member Bill moved by Senator Karim Ahmed Khawaja)
The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2016: to penalize number of serious offences against the person of a child like; child pornography, exposure to seduction, sexual abuse, cruelty to a child and trafficking in human beings within Pakistan. (Government Bill)
The Prevention of Electronic Crimes Bill, 2016: this Bill was termed as draconian law by some segments of society. The Senate of Pakistan made every endeavour to bring this legislative proposal in line with the constitutional guarantees and fundamental rights. Almost fifty (50) amendments were made by the Upper House in the Bill as passed by the National Assembly. Some of the significant amendments include brining child pornography in the domain of this law and providing two appellate forums. (Government Bill)
Legislation for provision of inexpensive and speedy justice to the people of Pakistan:
1. Anti-Terrorism Act (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
2. Arbitration and Conciliation Bill, 2016.
3. Code of Civil Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
4. Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
5. Land Acquisition (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
6. Law Reform (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
7. Supreme Court (Number of Judges) (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
8. Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Bill, 2016
(Bills drafted by the Committee of Whole and presented in the House by Leader of the House, Leader of the Opposition and all Parliamentary Leaders in the Senate passed unanimously).

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