13,267 cases of child abuse registered in five years, NA told

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly, during the question hour, on Wednesday was informed that 13,267 cases of child abuse were registered with the police from the year 2013 to 2017 all over the country in which 25 culprits were awarded death sentence out of 112 cases which were decided.

The National Assembly was informed that the “Civilian Victims of Terrorism (Relief and Rehabilitation) bill” has been prepared to provide compensation to civilian victims of terrorism. Law Minister Mahmood Bashir Virk told the House during the question-hour that the bill has been forwarded to the relevant division for further processing.

Minister of State for Communication Muhammad Junaid Anwaar Chaudhry told the House that motorway projects are being executed with speed to improve connectivity in the country. He said that the Lahore-Abdul-Hakeem M-3, Gojra-Shorkot section of M-4, Shorkot-Khanewal, Lahore-Sialkot and Karachi-Hyderabad M-9 projects will be completed this year. He said the DI Khan-Hakla and Sukkur-Multan sections of motorway will be completed by next year. He said the emergency response centers will also be set up on the motorways to provide prompt medical treatment to the distressed road users.

Earlier, the National Assembly passed three bills, including a legislation aimed at protection of children from abuse and violence. The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Child Protection Bill was unanimously passed by the Lower House of Parliament which envisages establishment of a child protectionadviser board and child protection institutions for protection of child from abuse, maltreatment, exploitation, neglect and mental violence.

The federal government, within the commencement of the Act, shall establish the child protection adviser board within three months to be headed by the federal secretary, Ministry of Human Rights, as its chairperson.

The board will advise the government on the matters relating to policy, legislation and implementation of the rights of the child to protection and care contained in international laws and obligations.

A child protection institution will receive reports of children in need of protection and care and based on reports would require services from the relevant department or institution for protection of a child. The institution would also maintain a record of case management reports.

The National Assembly also passed the Juvenile Justice System Bill, 2017 and the National University of Technology, 2018. The Juvenile Justice System Bill has been passed with an object of modifying and amending the laws relating to criminal justice system for juveniles by providing special focus on disposal of cases through diversion and social reintegration of the juvenile offenders.

Within three months of commencement of this Act, the relevant sessions judge shall establish a Juvenile Justice Committee for each sessions’ divisions. The committee will consist of four members to be headed by the serving judicial magistrate having district public prosecutor, member of the lower bar and serving probation officer or social welfare officer as its members.

The law will provide that juvenile may be charged with and tried together with an adult by the juvenile court if the court is satisfied that it is in the interest of justice to hold a joint trial. The court may also dispense with presence of the juvenile before it and may be allowed to joint proceedings through audio visual technology.

The National University of Technology (NUTECH) bill will provide for establishment of NUTECH in Islamabad introducing higher education in the technology streams and to certify technical skill development in affiliated institutes to make it responsive to the current and future needs of the industry and prospective opportunities offered by China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Minister of State for Power Abid Sher Ali told the House that no load-shedding is being carried-out due to lack of power generation as the feeders having less than 10 percent of losses are load-shedding free. He said due to theft on high loss feeders, load management is being carried out.

Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Sardar Mansab Ali Dogar said that the Pakistan Army is responding in befitting manner the Indian ceasefire violation on the Line of Control and the Working Boundary. He said India has committed 1,394 ceasefire violations along the LoC over the last one year.