National Assembly Standing Committee on Human Rights met under Acting Chairperson Shazia Marri

Islamabad the 24th February, 2021: National Assembly Standing Committee on Human Rights met under Acting Chairperson Shazia Marri, MNA  in Parliament House, Islamabad.

2. The Committee adopted the Report of the Sub-Committee and recommended that the following Bills be passed from the National Assembly:-

“The Protection against Harassment of Women at the work place (Amendment) Bill, 2019” moved by Mr. Amjad Ali Khan, MNA (Private  Member’s Bill)

“The Islamabad Capital Territory Senior Citizens Bill, 2019” moved by Dr. Shireen M. Mazari, MNA/Minister for Human Rights (Government Bill)

“The Islamabad Capital Territory Child Protection (Amendment) Bill 2020,” moved by Ms. Nafeesa Inayatullah Khan Khattak, MNA (Private Member’s Bill)

“The Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Bill, 2020” moved by Dr. Shireen M. Mazari, MNA/Minister for Human Rights (Government Bill).

and that, the following Bills may not be passed by the National Assembly:-

“The Women in Distress and Detention Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2019” moved by Ms. Uzma Riaz, MNA (Private Member’s Bill)

“The Juvenile Justice System, (Amendment) Bill, 2019” moved by Ms. Uzma Riaz, MNA (Private Member’s Bill).

3. The Committee was told about the injustice carried to the Transgender community regarding violent attacks and misbehavior by the police and other departments all over the country. The Minister Dr. Shireen M. Mazari remarked that constitution of Pakistan guarantees the protection of fundamental rights and provides that there shall be no discrimination of any person on the basis of sex, gender identity or gender expression. The Parliament has also passed Transgender Persons [Protection of Rights] Act, 2018 to ensure protection of transgender persons rights in Pakistan. A special ward in PIMS hospital, Islamabad has been established to address the health problems of Transgender community and letter to provinces also been written in this regard. The Committee was told by the Secretary that SOPs for the Police departments have been issued for addressal of grievances by the Transgender community. A Sub-Committee was formed under the Convenership of MNA Ms. Shaista Pervaiz to investigate, probe and to look into the solutions of the problems of the Transgender community.

The Committee was perturbed to listen to the story of Ms. Haseeba Qambarani whose father and brother have been found missing. The Committee sympathized with her and opined that legislation in this regard should be done. The Minister Dr. Shireen M. Mazari said that the Government is aware of the enforced disappearances and that it is in the Charter of the PTI Government to address this sensitive issue. The Prime Minister will soon be meeting the relatives of the missing persons. The Committee was told by the senior officer of Government Balochistan that JIT has been constituted, two meetings have been held and after its third conclusive meeting to ascertain/fix the responsibility, the report will be submitted before the Committee.

5. The Committee was appraised by a Senior Police officer of KPK Government on the arrest and determent of Professor Ismail, father of Human Rights Activist Gulalai Ismail. It was told that he has been arrested by fulfilling legal requirements under the charges of financial terrorism. Although the Committee concurred that the matter is sub judice but found the answers given by the officer were unsatisfactory and said that the due diligence was not carried out while framing the charges and it has brought disrepute to the Police department.

6. The Committee also expressed its concern over the attack on the office of renowned media group in Karachi.

7. Besides the Minister Dr. Shireen M. Mazari, the meeting was attended by MNA’s Mr. Saif Ur Rehman, Mr. Attaullah, Ms. Ghazala Saifi, Ms. Rukhsana Naveed, Ms. Zille Huma, Ms. Tashfeen Safdar, Ms. Shunila Ruth, Ms. Shaista Pervaiz, Mr. Mohsin Dawar, Abdur Rehman Kanju, Ms. Zaib Jaffar, Dr. Mahreen Razzaq Bhutto, Ms. Asma Qadeer, Special Invitee Senator (Retired) Farhatullah Khan Babar, Secretary, Ministry of  Human Rights and senior officers of the relevant departments.

(Syed Jawad Naqvi)

J. S /Secretary Committee