PESHAWAR: Pakistan Peoples Party MPA Nighat Yasmin Orakzai submitted the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Prohibition of Corporal Punishment Bill, 2021, to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly’s Secretariat here on Thursday.

       In a statement, the lawmaker said the purpose of the private member’s bill was to prohibit all forms of violence against children in educational institutions and workplaces.

       She said violence against children led to ‘demotion, suspension, dismissal, or forced retirement’.

       According to the bill, the perpetrator of child abuse will not be eligible for a job in future.

       Cognisance of offence under this act shall be taken by a court of magistrate.

       Section 3(1) of the private member’s bill says the child has the right to be shown respect for his personality and individuality and shall not be made subject to corporal punishment or any other humiliating or degrading treatment.

       The bill said whoever violated the provisions of Section 3 of the proposed law would be liable to the punishments proscribed for the said offences in the Pakistan Penal Code, and in other laws.

       It added that cognisance of offence under the proposed act would be taken by a court of a magistrate on the compliant of the child on whom punishment was inflicted or the parents of such child or his next of kin.

       Published in Dawn, October 22nd, 2021