Day: April 10, 2011

By Peer Muhammad

Bill seeks to amend certain sections of the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860.

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Women Development approved the Acid Control and Acid Crime Prevention Bill 2010 on Saturday and referred it to the assembly for passage.

The bill was introduced last year by MNAs Marvi Memon, Begum Shahnaz Sheikh and Advocate Anusha Rehman in a bid to prevent growing incidents of violence against women. After much scrutiny, the committee approved the bill which further amends the Pakistan Penal Code 1860.

The amendment in Section 336-B states, “Whoever causes hurt by corrosive substance shall be punished with imprisonment for life or imprisonment of either description which shall not be less than fourteen years and a minimum fine of one million rupees.”

The new insertion in Section 336-A states, “Whosoever with intention or knowingly causes or attempts to cause hurt by means of a corrosive substance or any substance which is deleterious to human body when it is swallowed, inhaled, come in contact or received into human body or otherwise shall be said to cause hurt by corrosive substance.”

It explains disfigurement as “disfigurement of face or disfigurement or dismemberment of any organ or any part of the organ of the human body which impairs or injures or corrodes or deforms the symmetry or appearance of a person.”

The key mover of the bill, Memon, said that her motivation came after the acid attack on Maria Shah in Shikarpur, who later succumbed to burn injuries. “I promised Maria at her deathbed to bring a law which would ensure that her culprits are punished”, she added.

The committee’s chairperson, Bushra Goher, said the bill was another step taken by the parliament for the protection of women. Previously, the committee passed Women Protection Bill and Harassment of Women at Workplace Bill 2010.

Source: The Express Tribune

Date:4/10/2011

Myra Imran

Islamabad: Civil society organizations, including Mehrgarh, Pattan Development Organisation, Aasha, Bedari, Centre of Civic Education and Women Organisation of Rights and Democracy have supported the devolution of Ministry for Women Development (MoWD) under the 18th Amendment.

In a meeting organised to discuss the devolution of women’s ministry, the civil society representatives said that it is vitally important that the mainstreaming of gender across ministries must be made the responsibility of the provinces.

“We believe that mainstreaming gender within the devolution framework as well as setting up women’s specific safeguard at the provincial level is the only way forward and we fully support this process,” said gender expert, Dr. Fauzia Saeed.

She said that it is time to celebrate instead of raising concerns, as devolution was a long-standing demand of civil society for many decades. Reacting to the recent criticism over the ministry’s devolution, she said that the decision to devolve Women Ministry was taken in May last year and it has not come as a surprise to public or private sector. “The federal ministry got a whole year to level the ground for transferring matters to provinces. It is unfortunate that nothing has been done in this direction,” she added. “While we appreciate the efforts made over decades by the MoWD, it is important not to overstate its contribution to promote women’s rights,” she pointed out while adding that women centred legislation and policies were produced with the efforts of gender experts and women rights activists from outside the ministry. She acknowledged the role of National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) for its valuable input in that process.

She said that women rights activists had been publicly expressing their frustration over the inability of the MoWD to play its role as a watchdog ministry to oversee and ensure the integration of gender perspectives and concerns in the planning and the working of other ministries. She said that lack of in-house gender capacity remained as a key barrier for MoWD to play its role effectively.

In his comprehensive talk on legal side of devolution process, Zafarullah Khan from Centre of Civic Education rejected the argument that provinces lack capacity to manage the new responsibilities. He said that this believe has emerged as a result of lack of knowledge. He was of the opinion that devolution will encourage healthy competition among provinces and will provide civil society with more windows to extend their work to grassroots level. He said that provinces already have institutional set-ups to deal with women issues. “Provinces will automatically improve the capacity of these departments once they get autonomy.” He said that his organisation is in the favour of devolving Human Rights Ministry and Information Ministry to the provinces as well. “It is the right of provinces to manage these issues on their own.”

Answering a query regarding the impact this decision will have on civil society, he said that it would be wrong to underestimate the role of civil society at the provincial level. “The civil society has got strong roots at the provincial level and can effectively play the role of a watchdog as well as a contributor in the process of women development.” He demanded that the next step should be to extend devolution at district level.

Human Right Activists Farzana Bari and Sameena Nazir stressed the need to review the mandate of NCSW so that it can act as central body to protect the rights of women at federal level. “As firm believers of democracy we have a faith that people via provinces have the capacity and commitment to work for the benefits for all citizens including women. The Constitution of Pakistan provides the basic framework within which all provinces can work for the rights of women,” said Farzana Bari.

Sameena said that with the devolution of all social sector ministries, there is no point in demanding women ministry to stay at the federal level. “Women empowerment is a cross cutting theme and all social sector ministries have to ensure gender mainstreaming in their projects. If social sectors ministries are in provinces that women ministry should also be devolved at the same level,” she argued.

Source: The Express Tribune

Date:4/10/2011

ISLAMABAD: Women from across the country are actively taking part in the Islamabad Expo 2001 with high hopes of meeting their financial challenges.

The two-day event is a step towards women’s economic empowerment and houses a wide range of handmade garments, arts and crafts, home decor, jewellery, and foods. Organised by the Islamabad Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IWCCI), the event will conclude at the Jinnah Convention Centre till April 10.

Struggling with her illness and to earn a livelihood, Hanifa Qasim, a 36-year-old mother of two, has come from Bhawalpur to exhibit her home stitched clothes at the exposition.

After her husband lost his job and the family were striving to pay for her treatment for breast tumours, she set up a small boutique at her home. “I’m hopeful that this exhibition will help me earn enough money to finally complete my treatment,” she said.
Also from Bahawalpur, Mrs Tariq has exhibited home stitched clothes at the event with her four sons who help her with her business. “This is the first time I have put my work for sale in an expo and I hope that it will be of benefit,” she said while talking to The Express Tribune.

Another participant, Naima Bibi from Mansehra, had set up a stall selling various items including wallets, mobile covers, jewellery and decoration pieces. Content with her stall sale, she said, “I am surprised to see how many women are interested in buying cell phone covers.”

A young local interior designer, Sidra Khan said, “Such events provide women an opportunity to broaden their exposure in the field of business.” The 25-year-old manages three furniture showrooms in twin cities.

Although satisfied with the variety of products offered at the event, visitors complained that most items were pricy. “I was expecting that commodities would be offered here at reduced prices,” said Abeera Hashim, a housewife visiting the event, “However, some items are being sold at higher than market prices.” Another visitor, Mehreen Alvi said, “The event is fun. It offers entertainment for people of all ages,”

Among others, “Jhut Pat Rabte” and “Karobar Shifa Khana” were some interesting stalls where people dressed as doctors provided useful tips to visitors interested in improving their business skills.

Source: The Express Tribune

Date:4/10/2011

BHAKKAR: A pir was accused of raping a woman after drugging her and her daughters on Saturday.

In Notak Nasheb Sainghar, pir Javed Shah forced broke into Shehzadi Bibi’s house late at on Friday night and told her that her house was haunted by ‘evil’ djinns who were causing her daughters to fall sick.

He said that he had several djinns ‘under his control’ that could turn out the others if she agreed to do what he said. Shah gave Shehzadi and her daughters glasses of water that had been drugged and the family fell unconscious. Shehzadi, her nine-year-old daughter Shazia and seven-year-old daughter Shumaila fainted and when they woke up the next day Shah was gone.

Javed Shah repeatedly raped Shehzadi the entire night. When the family woke up the next day and went to the hospital doctors refused to treat her for fear of the djinns.

“The children came screaming to us for help and told us what happened. We took them to the hospital but people were fearful of attending to her when they heard about what had happened with the djinns,” said a neighbour, Rahat.

Shehzadi eventually received treatment at a clinic and has registered a case against Javed Shah with the police.

Police officials are searching for the accused who fled the district.

Source: The Express Tribune

Date:4/10/2011

ISLAMABAD: United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) representative Shadia Yousif Bakhait said on Saturday that women could help reduce poverty in the country by utilising their abilities in different sectors.

“Woman has an important role in any society and without their contribution no nation can strengthen its economy. Pakistani women are capable enough to play their role in strengthening the national economy but the need is to give them proper guidelines,” said Shadia Yousif Bakhait while addressing the inaugural ceremony of the Islamabad Expo 2011.

She said that the UNIDO was committed to help Pakistan’s industrial sector specially gems and jewellery and stone development sectors in order to strengthen the country’s economy.

Praising the arrangements of Islamabad Expo 2011, Chairman of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) Imtiaz Inayat Elahi said that such type of programmes were vital for educating the people to improve their capacity in different sectors and earn foreign exchange which would ultimately strengthen the country’s economy.

He said that the CDA always encouraged and supported such kind of development programmes.

Samina Fazil, President of Islamabad Women Chamber of Commerce andIndustry (IWCCI), said that 52 per cent of the country’s population consisted of women, which unfortunately were not contributing their proper share in the national economy.

She said that there was a strong need to utilize the women’s abilities by educating them and giving proper guidelines different skills and business opportunities in order to improve the country’s economy.

The two-day exhibition, which has been organized by the Pakistan Stone Development Company (PASDEC) in collaboration with its partner United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) displayed marble mosaic and inlay work to highlight the women empowerment culture through skill development programme in the country.

The PASDEC is promoting enterprise household models to support womenenterprising activities of women to generate employment in rural areasand produce value-added products from marble waste such as mosaic,inlays and handicraft products. Mosaic is the art of decoration with small pieces of stone, coloredglass or other material.

Source: The News

Date:4/10/2011