With an aim to protect orphan and homeless children and ensure their registration, a parliamentary body on Friday decided to bring the "Orphan Children Registration Bill" in the National Assembly. The National Assembly Standing Committee on Human Rights, which met with MNA Babar Nawaz Khan in the chair, decided to introduce "Orphan Children Registration Bill" after Patron-in-Chief Pakistan Sweet Homes (PSH) Zamurd Khan suggested putting in place legislation to protect orphan children and stop their exploitation by some of the organisations.
The meeting of the standing committee was held at the PSH and it was also attended by orphan children housed at the PSH. The committee members also visited different sections of the PSH and expressed their satisfaction over arrangements and facilities provided to the children.
Speaking on the occasion, Zamurd Khan requested the committee to initiate work on "Orphan Children Registration Bill" in order to protect orphans and ensure their registration. He also called for registration of the organisations, which provide shelter to orphans. He alleged that a number of organisations which provide shelter to orphan children are not interested in registration of orphan children as they are involved in exploitation of these children. Strict punishment should be announced for those who are playing with the future of innocent children and misusing children for their nefarious designs, he added.
Khan said that in Pakistan, no one can drive a motorbike without proper registration but a number of unregistered organisations are working in the names of orphan homes without any check. He said the government needs to take action against 'beggar gangs' as they kidnap orphan and disabled children from different areas of the country for begging. "We need to join hands to discourage professional beggary and support the destitute," he added. Khan briefed the committee about the issues and measures taken by his organisation to improve the conditions of the children.
Babar Nawaz Khan said he was shocked on the statement of father of Tayyaba, a housemaid who was a victim of domestic violence, who announced to forgive the accused. He said the committee would introduce a bill in the Parliament for protection of children so that no child could face any kind of violence or discrimination in the country. "We are bringing a bill on the issues of honour killing and child protection. This bill will stop practice of forgiving such accused even by the parents of such victims and law will take its course against them," he remarked. He said the committee would suggest referring such cases to the anti-terrorism court.
The committee extended full support to the PSH administration for welfare of children and also urged for expanding the project to cover more orphan children for their secure future.