Day: December 23, 2011

KARACHI: Sindh Human Rights Minister Nadia Gabol visited Joharabad police station and met with the parents of innocent girl Alshba, who was raped and killed few days back after kidnapping.

A child Nimra was an eyewitness of the kidnapping incident. She not only foiled her own kidnapping but also played key role in arrest of the accused. Nadia Gabol hailed the courage of Nimra and said that she would recommend her name to Sindh governor for the award.

She also praised the role of Nimra’s parents and police, and hoped that the remaining accused would also be arrested soon.

Source: Daily Times

By: Asim Yasin

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari Thursday gave assent to two landmark bills that seek enhanced punishment for several offences against women.

The first bill that was assented to is called Criminal Law (Third Amendment) Bill 2011 which was passed by the National Assembly on November 15, 2011 and by Senate on December 12, 2011.

Spokesperson to the President Farhatullah Babar said that president signed the bills Thursday to coincide with the national day for working women to highlight the government’s commitment to protect women against abuse by raising the bar for crimes against them.

The president, while signing the bills, said that in line with the vision of Shaheed Mohtarma Banazir Bhutto, the present democratic government would continue to empower women and the signing of a Bill into an Act was a manifestation of this policy.

He said the signing of the new law Thursday was an auspicious occasion as December 22 marked the national day for working women. The first bill signed into law seeks punish for offences against women, namely, giving them in marriage in badal-e-sulah, wanni or swara, depriving them from inheritance, forced marriage and marriage with Holy Quran.

According to Section 310A, “whoever gives a female in marriage or otherwise compels her to enter into marriage, as badal-e-sulah, wanni, or swara or any other custom or practice under any name, in consideration of settling a civil dispute or a criminal liability, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years but shall not be less than three years and shall also be liable to fine of five hundred thousand rupees.”

A new chapter XXA containing three clauses has also been inserted in the code seeking to prohibit three offences against women. The offences punishable with various terms of imprisonment and fine include depriving women from inheriting property, forced marriage and marriage with the Holy Quran.

Section 498A states that “Whoever by deceitful or illegal means deprives any woman from inheriting any movable or immovable property at the time of opening of succession shall be punished with imprisonment for either description for a term which may extend to ten years but not be less than five years or with a fine of one million rupees or both.”

Section 498B states that “whoever coerces or in any manner whatsoever compels a woman to enter into marriage shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term, which may extend to seven years or for a term which shall not be less than three years and shall also be liable to fine of five hundred thousand rupees.”

Section 498C states that “whoever compels or arranges or facilitates the marriage of woman with the Holy Quran shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to seven years which shall not be less than three years and shall be liable to fine of five hundred thousand rupees.”

It also explains that oath by a woman on Holy Quran to remain unmarried for the rest of her life or, not to claim her share of inheritance shall be deemed to be marriage with the Holy Quran.

The bill also refrains provincial government from suspending/remitting sentences in cases of rape. The spokesperson said that the second bill which the president assented to was the Criminal Law (Second Amendment) Bill 2011.

This bill, he said, seeks to provide punishment of 14 years to life imprisonment for crimes of disfiguring and defacing of human organ/body by corrosive substance.

Section 336B of the bill states that “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 minimum fine of one million rupees.”

The spokesperson said that the president gave his assent to these bills after receiving summaries containing the advice from the prime minister.

Source: The News

KARACHI: A judicial magistrate on Thursday remanded a man in police custody till Dec 28 for allegedly killing his three daughters.

The suspect was arrested on Wednesday after the police claimed that he confessed to have killed his daughters a couple of months back in the Orangi Town area.

The investigation officer of the case produced the suspect before a judicial magistrate (west) and sought his physical remand stating that he had to arrest the person from whom the suspected killer had bought tranquilisers and also had to conduct the suspect’s medical examination since the victims’ medical reports suggested that they had been subjected to a sexual assault.

The magistrate handed over the suspect to the police on six-day physical remand and directed the IO to produce him on the next hearing along with the investigation diaries.

According to the prosecution, the victims, two of them physically handicapped and aged between eight and 16 years, were found dead in a cattle pond set up within their house located in Mairajun Nabi Colony of Orangi Town’s Sector 10 on the morning of Oct 15.

The police claimed that the victims’ father, a dairy farmer, confessed to have fed his daughters haleem laced with a sedative and after they fell unconscious he drowned them in the pond.

A case (FIR No.447/11) was registered under Sections 302 (punishment for premeditated murder) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) against the suspect.

Suspects remanded

A judicial magistrate (central) on Thursday remanded two suspects in police custody till Dec 31 in a case pertaining to attempted abduction of an underage girl.

The police said that the suspects were trying to abduct a minor girl within the remit of the Jauharabad police station when they were caught by people on Dec 20.

A case (FIR No.267/11) was registered under Section 364-A (abduction under the age of ten) and 34 of the PPC.

The administrative judge of anti-terrorism courts in Karachi on Wednesday had remanded the same suspects in police custody for their alleged involvement in a kidnap, rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl.

Source: Dawn

ISLAMABAD: In the fight for women’s rights, there is much to be happy about this year. The Protection Against the Harassment of Women at Work Place Act 2010 was finally promulgated and implemented in the senate, thus adding to the National Working Women’s Day celebrations.

The day was declared by the prime minister last year to recognise working women’s struggles and symbolise the abrasive and undignified working environment which women fall prey to, in addition to other obstacles such as social taboos of working women.

December 22 was chosen as the day on account of it being the date when Dr Fouzia Saeed, a social worker and founder of Alliance Against Sexual Harassment (AASHA), filed a sexual complaint against a UN official in Pakistan in conjunction with eleven other women.

Saeed penned her experience down in “Working with Sharks: Countering Sexual Harassment in our Lives”, a book that was launched at the 11th Annual Working Women’s Assembly at Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) on Thursday.

In addition to Saeed’s book launch, the event featured many celebratory aspects that brought together women from all walks of life and professions.

The PNCA auditorium was jam-packed to the extent that a significant number of participants had to stand in the hallway.

AASHA, which was integral to the legislation, has formed a precedent for civil society organisations to synergise their efforts when working for a common cause without running on donor-funded projects.

AASHA’s journey was shared with the audience through a film.

The event concluded with Rukhsana Murtaza singing songs from all four provinces, which enthralled the audience to sing along and dance.

Source: Tribune