ISLAMABAD: A National Assembly committee has a heavy legislative agenda on May 9 during which it will take up nearly 20 bills and also discuss matters of public importance and calling attention notices.

Besides deliberating on the Pakistan Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2022 and The Pure Food Authority Bill, 2020, the National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior will discuss amendment to section 6 in the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997.

The bill’s mover, PPP MNA Qadir Khan Mandokhail, sought insertion of the expression, “use of corrosive substance which is deleterious to human body”.

The mover maintained that acid throwing burn crimes were increasing day by day. Hundreds of women and children had been harmed as a result of this horrendous act. Because of the socio-economic situation pertaining to victim, the fear and stigma they confronted, as well as highly complex nature of acid and burn injuries, a deterrent legislation was requested.

Prohibition of kite flying, Pakistan citizenship bills up for discussion

The Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997 had as its primary goal the prevention of terrorism as well as the speedy trials of heinous offence. It was critical to include use of corrosive substance in Anti-terrorism Act, he said in the statement of objectives.

Similarly, another crucial legislation will be discussed seeking complete ban on kite flying in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) and suggesting stern punishment to the violators.

The Prohibition of Kite Flying Bill 2021 that had been moved by James Iqbal, a minority member belonging to Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F), as a private member bill some two years ago, had been placed on the agenda of the committee meeting.

Mr Iqbal had stated that he was tabling the bill with an aim to save precious human lives as well as public and private properties of the residents of the capital city by ensuring strict ban on manufacturing of kites and its metallic strings, sale, purchase and usage.

According to him, the bill had been introduced in accordance with Article 9 of the Constitution, which ensured that no person shall be deprived of life or liberty.

The MNA was of the view that by introducing exemplary punishments, the law enforcing departments would perform better to eliminate illegal kite flying under the zero-tolerance policy.

Through the bill, the mover had suggested that those found manufacturing kites or chemical string (Maanjha) could face imprisonment of up to 10 years, which shall not be less than five years or a fine from Rs500,000 to Rs1 million.

Likewise, another important legislation to be discussed is ‘The Employment of Children Amendment Bill 2022’ moved by MNA Kesoomal Kheal Das.

The mover argued that the intent behind the amendments were not to promote child labour but prohibit employment of children. This amendment bill therefore proposed change of title of the act to fix lacunae in the existing law.

The meeting will also be seeking amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure Amendment Bill 2022, moved by MNA Qadir Khan Mandokhail, the Criminal Laws Amendment Bill 2020, moved by MNA Chaudhry Faqir Ahmad, and the Provincial Motor Vehicles Amendment Bill 2020 moved by MNA Mohsin Dawar.

The meeting will also take up a matter of public interest, following directives from the prime minister regarding fixing responsibility for death of children due to non-admission in burn centre.

Published in Dawn, May 7th, 2023