Sindh Assembly session: Death penalty sought in female assault cases
By Razzak Abro
KARACHI: A law should be enacted to award death penalty for those involved in disgracing women, demanded Sindh Minister for Women Development Tauqeer Fatima Bhutto while responding to a point of order raised by a female member of the ruling PPP in the Sindh Assembly on Tuesday.
PPP member Rai Naz Bozdar had drawn the House’s attention about an incident regarding criminal assault of a female teenage student in Khairpur. The minister said that there was a need for amendments to the law. She said that a resolution has already been submitted in this regard. The minister informed the House that an FIR has been registered and one accused has been arrested.
Ms Bozdar said that violence against women was on the rise and the teenage student, who was allegedly disgraced by a teacher in taluka Faiz Ganj of district Khairpur, was a recent victim of this act.
She demanded exemplary punishment for the teachers involved in this shameful incident.
PML-F’s Dr Rafique Bhamban, in whose consistency this shameful incident occurred, said that the Sindh chief minister has taken notice of the incident and three people have been nominated in the FIR. He, however, said no one was yet arrested or suspended and only a case has been registered so far.
Speaking on a point of order, PML-F’s Nusrat Sehar Abbasi leveled accusations of political victimisation in the province. She said that despite assurances on the floor of the House, a reign of political victimisation has been let loose against the opposition in the province. She alleged that in Khairpur, Faqir Sikandar Gopand of Thari Mirwah was implicated in false cases.
Sindh Law Minister Ayaz Soomro said that PPP did not believe in political victimisation and assured the member that transparent and impartial inquiry would be held.
Member PPP Abdus Sattar Rajpar, on a point of order, alleged that in Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad, the activists of Punjab Students Council physically assaulted and tortured students belonging to Sindh.
He said instead of providing relief and paying any heed to the complaints of the affected students from Sindh, the vice-chancellor and registrar of the university rusticated the affected students and also imposed a penalty on them.
He demanded that rustication orders of these students should be withdrawn and treatment should be provided to the injured students.
The law minister informed the House that he had talked to the Federal Education Minister Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani on the issue and inquiry would be held into the incident. He said he has also talked to the Federal Health Minister Mir Eijaz Jakhrani for treatment of injured students.
Though Tuesday was a private members’ day and a huge business was listed on the agenda included a privilege motion of PPP member Haji Munawwar Ali Abbasi, two private bills, five resolutions and five private motions etc, but none of the items, except for question hour regarding minorities affairs and information technology, were taken up.
Source: Daily Times
Date:10/21/2009
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