Islamabad:
The National Assembly approved on Tuesday the bill for the prevention of Atacos of Attacks of Accid 2024, prescribing the death penalty or up to seven years in prison by perpetrators, and up to two years in jail or a fine for police officers declared guilty of a defective investigation.
The bill, moved by the PPP legislator, Mehreen Razzaq Bhutto, seeks to prevent acid attacks and burns, guarantee rapid justice and provide rehabilitation to victims. It leads that the relevant courts conclude all these cases within 60 days.
Key provisions include free medical treatment for victims in government hospitals, the establishment of rehabilitation centers and the provision of free legal assistance.
An acid and burns monitoring board will be established with at least 33% female representation.
In addition, the legislation requires special protection measures for victims and witnesses, and stipulates financial assistance for children and dependent on victims until they become self -sufficient.
Strike on Imran prison meetings
Early in the day, the session, chaired by President Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, was marked by an opposition strike for the denial of meetings between the founding president of PTI imprisoned Imran Khan and five ANM in the waiting of the Adiala prison.
Asad Qaiser of PTI said that the measure was a violation of the privilege of the members.
The speaker urged both parties to hold conversations, offering as a bridge between the government and the opposition. “There is no jirga larger than the National Assembly and the Senate. I am ready to play the role of a bridge,” he said.
He proposed a government negotiation team comprising the Minister of Law Azam Nazeer Tarar, Talal Chaudhry and Syed Naveed Qamar, while they urged the opposition to appoint their representatives. Tarar said that the problem of the prison meeting was procedural but could be resolved through dialogue. Malik Amir Dogar de PTI agreed to consult his group before finishing the names.
In spite of the repeated quakes of the speaker so as not to organize a strike, the opposition legislators left the camera, returning shortly after to declare it a symbolic protest. Then they pointed out the quorum, which was found that it was complete.
Five bills passed, one sent back
The Chamber approved five bills: the draft amendment 2025 of the draft law on the prevention of attacos and attaches of attacks of attacks of acid attacos and attaches of attacks of attacks of attacks of attacks of attacks of attacks) of the National Institute of the National Institute (reorganization), the draft law of prevention of attacks of acid attacks and fire attacks 2024 reserved 2024 and the bill of Zakat and Ushr (amendment) 2025.
It also initially approved the draft Law on the Protection of Journalists (amendment) 2025, but in the intervention of the Minister of Law Tarar, the approval was withdrawn, and the bill was referred to the Permanent Committee relevant for its additional consideration.
The session was postponed until 11 in the morning on Wednesday.
