Pak NA passes bill against sexual harassment of women at workplace
By ANIThursday, January 21, 2010
ISLAMABAD - The Pakistan National Assembly has passed a bill to amend the existing law against sexual harassment of women at workplace.
The new amendment bill, which was moved in the Lower House by Law Minister Babar Awan, seeks to insert a new offence in the Pakistan Penal Code to provide for punishment over sexual harassment at workplaces.
The amendment, which has now been sent to the Upper House for approval, also seeks to make the offence punishable with imprisonment extending upto three years or a fine of up to 500,000 rupees, or both.
The amendment was supported by all political parties in the house apart from religious parties, The Daily Times reported.
JUI Senators Mohammad Khan Shirani, Ghafoor Haideri, Gul Naseeb Khan along with members of the Jamaat-e Islam (JI) objected to the bill, saying that it was a violation of the fundamental norms of Islam and the constitution.
They said that such a law would promote “vulgarity among women”, and proposed sending the bill to the Council of Islamic Ideology for further review. (ANI)
