NA unanimously passes Prohibition of Corporal Punishment Bill 2013

The National Assembly Tuesday unanimously passed “The Prohibition of Corporal Punishment Bill‚ 2013”. The bill provides for making provisions for prohibition of corporal punishment against children.The bill was moved by Dr. Attiya Inayatullah.

Replying to a call attention notice moved by Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho and others regarding lack of maternal care and child heath care in government hospitals in Islamabad‚ Minister for Capital Administration and Development Nazar Muhammad Gondal informed the House that the capital has the best maternal and child heath care facilities.

He said 200 beds facility is available at PIMS for this purpose while 174 beds at the Polyclinic Hospital are also meant for maternal and child health. He said latest facilities are also being provided at 3 Rural Health Centres‚ 14 Basic Health Units and National Institute of Health. 4 bills were introduced in the House on Tuesday. “The Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Bill‚ 2013” provides for establishment of empowered local governments in Islamabad Capital Territory. It was moved by Shaikh Salahuddin.

“The Legal Practitioners and Bar Council (Amendment) Bill‚ 2013” provides to amend the Legal Practitioners and Bar Councils Act‚ 1973. It was moved by Naseer Bhutta. “The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill‚ 2013” provides to amend the Pakistan Penal Code‚ 1860 and the Code of Criminal Procedure‚ 1898”. The bill was separately moved by Tasneem Siddiqui and Kishwar Zehra.

“The Overseas Pakistanis Facilitation of Voting Bill‚ 2013” provides to facilitate Overseas Pakistanis to vote in the General and Local Bodies Elections in the country. The bill was moved by Shaikh Salahuddin. Chairman Standing Committee on Information Technology Chaudhry Muhammad Barjees Tahir presented before the House report of the committee on “The Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-

(Amendment) organization) Bill‚ 2010”.

Member of the Standing Committee on Religious Affairs Nighat Mir presented before the House report of the committee on “The Publication of the Holy Quran ( Elimination of Printing and Recordings Errors) ( Amendment) Bill‚ 2008”. The House also unanimously passed “The Reproductive Healthcare and Rights Bill‚ 2013”. It provides to facilitate reproductive healthcare and promote reproductive health rights. National Assembly on Tuesday also unanimously passed “The Representation of Peoples ( Amendment) Bill‚ 2013”. The bill provides to amend the Peoples Act‚ 1976. It was moved by Zahid Hamid.

Under the bill‚ nomination papers can be submitted by the candidates to the Returning Officers by proposer or seconder or by a nominee and there will be no restriction on the candidate to submit the nomination papers by personally appearing before the Returning Officer.