Washington: A US human rights body today asked Pakistan to quickly reintroduce legislation to protect women and children from domestic violence.
The Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Bill was passed unanimously by Pakistan`s National Assembly on August 4 last year, but bill lapsed after Pakistani Senate
failed to pass it within three months as required under the country`s constitution.
"The proposed law has widespread support in Pakistan, and the government should make passing it a priority," Senior South Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch Ali Dayan Hasan said in a statement.
Legislators from both opposition and government parties told Human Rights Watch that even though Pakistan`s President Asif Zardari and Premier Yusuf Raza Gilani supported the bill, it was unofficially delayed as some opposition ministers allegedly asked Islamist party members to oppose the bill in the upper house of Pakistan`s parliament.
The bill seeks to prevent violence against women and children with a network of protection committees and officers and prompt trials of the abusers.
The bill seeks to prevent violence against women and children with a network of protection committees and officers and prompt trials of the abusers.
It requires the court to set a hearing within three days of receiving a complaint and to adjudicate the case within 30 days. The law prescribes incremental terms of imprisonment and fines for each breach of a protection order.
PTI
