The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Tuesday unanimously passed the KP Vagrancy Restraint Bill 2020 to form a steering committee and establishment of Darul Kafala to mobilize and motivate the general public for all kinds of contributions for the well being of vagrants (beggars) in order to restrain vagrancy in the society.
The bill was moved by Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Sultan Muhammad Khan in the KP Assembly which met here with Speaker Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani in the chair.
The proposed seven member steering committee would be headed by Secretary Social Welfare and comprises Deputy Secretary Social Welfare as Vice Chairman while members are Director Human Rights Parliamentary Affairs Department, District Officers Social Welfare, Reps of concerned Deputy Commissioner, reps of Provincial Police and Director Social Welfare.
The committee would lay down the police guidelines and issues directions for the efficient and effective performance of the Darul Kafala. The committee would examine and approve the procedure for care, detention, training and maintenance of vagrants. It would also suggest to the government the measures to control vagrancy in the province. The bill also suggested establishment of a Darul Kafala which will provide shelters to the beggars and provide healthcare, education and skill development facilities to the alms seekers.
The bill also allowed the beggars to have the facility of voluntary admissions in Darul Kafala, provided special magistrate is satisfied that the beggar has no source of livelihood. The bill allowed the police officers to confiscate anything from a beggar if he found anything that amounted to be used for soliciting alms.
The bill proposed punishment for employing or causing for vagrancy with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one year or with fine up to Rs500000 and not less than Rs300000 or both.
The assembly passed the KP protection against harassment of women at work place amendment bill 2020 by majority votes. The bill was moved by Minister for Social Welfare Dr Hisham Inamullah Khan. The government would appoint provincial ombudsman to deal with cases involving harassment of women at work places.
Meanwhile, Speaker Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Mushtaq Ghani once again warned the departments of strict action for not replying to the questions of the lawmakers during question hour and ruled that the questions of the ministers absent from the session would be straightaway referred to the concerned committee.
He took the notice over the question of PPP lawmaker Nighat Orakzai which she had submitted in the assembly secretariat almost one year ago.
Nighat Orakzai told that she had submitted here question about the local government department one year ago but the department had not yet replied to it. She suggested that one month time should be given to the newly appointed ministers to update themselves about their department.
Parliamentary Leader of ANP Sardar Hussain Babak while supporting Nighat Orakzai said that it would be better to give one month time to all the newly appointed ministers, Advisors and Special Assistants to CM to prepare themselves for the assembly questions.
He said that questions about the departments given to the new ministers should made part of the assembly agenda after a month time.
The speaker on the occasion referred the questions of Communication and Works Department to committee concern due to the absence of the minister. Later, the Speaker Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani adjourned the proceeding of the house till 2:00 P.M of January 27, 2020.