Corporal punishment for children bill to be discussed in National Assembly

Federal Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari told Islamabad High Court (IHC) that the cabinet has approved a bill to ban corporal punishment for children, adding that the same would be introduced for debate and passage by the Parliament. While the hearing of thepetition, filed by singer and activist Shehzad Roy, against corporal punishment for children, IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah questioned what had become of lawmaking on the issue by the federal government. The court wondered why – despite the the federal cabinet having approved a bill on the issue in March 2019 – the relevant bill was not brought to the Parliament and directed the law ministry to appoint an officer to determine the reasons behind the delay. Speaking to the press outside of the IHC after the hearing, Mazari said Roy’s petition is “very important” and that her ministry fully “supports it”. “We have categorically informed the court [during today’s hearing] that the prime minister and federal cabinet had approved the bill and it should have been sent to the Parliament.” To read more from ProperGaanda: Mahira Khan: “I march for those who are not as privileged as I am”