Teachers’ family protection bill approved by Parliament is being held by bureaucracy in PM Office

Wedlock teachers hold protest demonstration against delay in sending their bill to President

Staff Reporter

ISLAMABAD, OCT 16: /DNA/ – Islamabad’s teachers working on deputation under wedlock in different schools of the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) on Monday took to roads to register their protest against what they called ‘mysterious’ delay by the government in sending their bill to the President House for signature.

The bill “Protection of Family Life & Wedlock Bill 2023” was passed by both Houses of the Parliament—The National Assembly and the Senate—two months ago in August and was destined to land in the President House for President Dr Arif Alvi’s assent in the same month. The bill aims at permanent absorption of around 300 lady teachers working under wedlock in various schools of FDE for last many years.

However, since August 7 when the bill was passed by the Senate, it has not been sent to the President and is taking rounds from one section of the Prime Minister’s Office to the other.

While condemning this inadvertent delay on part of the PMO, these teachers, mostly women teachers, held protest outside  the National Press Club and chanted slogans and regretted that bureaucracy proved more powerful than the Parliament as a legislation passed by the Parliament is lying at its mercy.

They had arrived with their families braving the cold wind and showers. They were holding placards and banners on which were inscribed slogans such as “Paliamant ko Izzat Do” “Ustaad ko Izzat Do” and “Don’t Distrub Family Life of Teachers.”

The protesting teachers were even determined to march towards the Prime Minister’s Office, however, the local administration with the help of the police and the FC stopped them requested them to postpone their march as they would arrange negotiations between them and the quarters concerned in the PM Office.

One of the lady teachers while speaking on the occasion, said they were surprised why an ordinary bill related with the welfare and family life protection of the teachers was being withheld by the government’s officials. “Kindly send our bill to the President and let him decide its fate,” said she. Another teacher said it was unfortunate that bureaucrats sitting in the PM Office were undermining the wisdom of the Parliament. Our protest will continue unless reason prevails and our bill is forwarded to President House, said she.

More than two months have passed since the Senate had passed the Islamabad wedlock teachers’ bill for their permanent absorption in FDE schools, but the bill is yet to see the light of the day as it has reportedly gone missing in the corridors of the Prime Minister’s Office and is yet to be traced and sent to the Aiwan-e-Sadr for President’s signature, she said.

“This is mysterious, shocking and quite irritating that at a time when a number of bills passed by the National Assembly and the Senate have been signed by the President and incorporated as Act of Parliament, a simple bill related to the ‘welfare and protection of family life’ of 300 teachers on deputation passed by the both the Houses is not yet signed by President Arif Alvi,’ said another protesting teacher.

Despite the Law Ministry’s clear observation, the bill was again kept and not routed to the President House. Meanwhile, the Caretaker Prime Minister left for the UNO. Now even more than a week after Prime Minister’s return, the bill has not yet been sent to the President House and the teachers, mostly lady teachers working for years in Islamabad’s schools on wedlock are keenly awaiting when it would finally be sent to the President House as it is directly linked with their family life and future of their kids. We shall continue our protest unless our bill is sent to the President House, they warned.

DNA

ISLAMABAD, OCT 16: The house unanimously supported the demand to raise the minimum age of marriage of girls to 18 years of age throughout Pakistan. Sindh is the only province in Pakistan where the minimum age of marriage for girls is 18 years.

PODA organized a 3-day 16th Annual RURAL Women Leadership Conference in Islamabad which will culminate tomorrow (Tuesday, 17th October) on award ceremony to honor the rural women leaders who have been excelled in their regions while promoting human rights. PODA has started organizing the conference since 2008. It is one of the biggest platforms in the country through which specifically rural women representing all regions of the country voice their concerns on issues which affect them most.  This year the theme of the conference i.e. “Stop Child Marriages for Sustainable Development, Climate and Democracy” was set with the input of the women leaders who are the primary custodians of the platform of the rural women conference. This year, PODA brought representatives from over 150 districts of the country, including ICT, Islamabad and regions of AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan. Rural women in hundreds were present during the 2nd day of the conference to call upon the policymakers, legislatures and all segments of the society to work for the protection of the rights of a girl-child who is not able to voice for her own rights, who wants to play, wants to live a healthy life, wants to get education and lead a dignified life as a full-fledged citizen of the country and who wants to exercise all the entitlements written in the Constitution of Pakistan.

“We are working specifically in 41 districts of Punjab, involving and engaging all concerned including communities and government officials to work together to increase the minimum age of marriage of girls to 18 years through a legal amendment. However, it is high time to introduce same age defining who is child in all laws to have a unanimity not discrepancies at national level,” said Sameena Nazir, PODA Executive Director. 

“The enforcement mechanisms of child marriage prevention are weak and insufficient and the role of the police needs clarity and direction legally and institutionally. Political parties need to commit to increase the minimum age of marriage to 18 years. Rural women will present on the ground situation about child marriages and share what are the key obstacles for prevention of child marriages and what strategic action is needed to protect the human rights of girls under age 18,” another speaker added.

Fauzia Yazdani, Policy Advisor and Journalist moderated the session. The speaker of this session included, Sumera Shaheen, Director Thal Development Organization, Bhakkar, Amina Mulazim, Vice President Chaman Welfare Society, Chiniot, Kausar Shaheen, President of Lady Health Workers’ Union, Lodhran and Dr. Anoosh Masood, Senior Superintendent of Police, Lahore.

Surriya Asghar, former Member National Assembly and Riffat Inam Butt, Secretary, Law and Justice Commission Pakistan spoke on the occasion.

Ayesha Raza Farooq, Chairperson National Commission on Child Rights said____.

HE Mr. Per Albert Ilsaas, Ambassador of Norway in Pakistan said, “protecting and promoting women’s rights has high priority in Norwegian foreign and development policy, Child early and forced marriage is form of gender-based violence and a human rights’ violation that deprives those involved of choice and autonomy over their lives and their own bodies”.

Pakistan is 5th most populous country in the world with 230 million people and 6th highest country with alarming number of girls married before the age of 18 in the world including girls with disabilities and from minority religious communities.

Through the session on “Asserting Rural Women’s Leadership for Food, Nutrition, Population and Climate Change Adaptation Decision-Making” the rural women explored ways to provide nutritional food awareness messages to rural women to improve knowledge about food diversity and the importance of understanding different and new ways of getting nutrition for women.

Dr. Shabina Raza, Country Director, Nutritional International said, “malnourished mothers more likely to give-birth-weight infants, who are at higher risk of malnutrition and related health issues. Young mothers usually lack the knowledge or support needed to practice optimal breastfeeding and complementary feeding which are essential for infant nutrition potentially resulting in undernourished infants and children.”

“Keeping in view that climate change has impacted women’s food and livelihoods options negatively yet women are not included in the knowledge sharing and decision making processes about climate change adaptation mitigation processes, we believe to bring women upfront to tackle the adverse effects of climate change on their lives to find their own solutions here through the platform of the conference,” said Dr. Fozia Kanwal, agronomist.

Bushra Tabassum, Muzafarabad, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Pushpa Kumari, Vice President of Sindh Climate Action Network (SCAN), Dheli Bai, President of Women Self Help Group Sindh, Shirin Akhter, Ghanche, Gilgit-Baltistan, Dr. Shahid Fazal, Technical Advisor for Maternal Nutrition Campaign, Nutrition International, Mr. Marco Mmarchetti, Representative, Olive Culture Pakistan, Dr. Shabina Riaz, Country Director Nutrition International (NI) and Rina Saeed, Chairperson Islamabad Wildlife Management Board, Islamabad. A larger number of rural women gave deep insight on the issues related to the nutritious food. They were of the view that young mother who lack nutritious food are unable to feed their infants and help lead their families for a dignified life.

RAWALPINDI, OCT 16 /DNA/ – Major General Matar bin Salim bin Rashid Al-Balushi, Commander Royal Army of Oman called on General Syed Asim Munir, NI (M), COAS at General Headquarters, today.

During the meeting matters of mutual interest were discussed. The visiting dignitary lauded Pakistan Army’s achievements in fight against terrorism and continued efforts for regional peace and stability.

Earlier on arrival at GHQ, Commander Royal Army of Oman laid floral wreath at Yadgar-e-Shuhada. A smartly turned out contingent of Pakistan Army presented the guard of honour to the visiting dignitary.

ISLAMABAD, OCT 16: PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s lawyer Latif Khosa told the Islamabad High Court (IHC) that it was his client’s responsibility being the prime minister that if he sensed a conspiracy against the country he should inform the public.

Khosa said this during the hearing of a petition seeking dismissal of the cipher case against Imran Khan. He argued that the Official Secrets Act did not apply in this case nor did Section 5.

The hearing was being presided over by IHC Chief Justice Aamir Farooq.

The FIA prosecutor requested to adjourn the proceedings till tomorrow, while the court told him to submit written arguments.

Imran Khan’s counsel Latif Khosa remarked that the cipher in question was sent to the Foreign Office by former ambassador to the US Asad Majeed. Imran Khan was the chief executive of the country at the time, and his oath empowered him in such a situation.

“It is recognized that this was an interference in the internal affairs of Pakistan. The former prime minister fulfilled his national duty. A PM’s oath allows him to inform the nation about the threat to the country,” the lawyer argued.

It is ridiculous to say that the PTI chairman took away the cipher, he said, adding that the president insists he did not sign on the amendments to the Official Secrets Act.

Even if the law is enforced, it does not apply to the past, Khosa said. He added that Section 5 did not apply in the cipher case. He maintained that this case was filed on the basis of malice.

Meanwhile, the special court of the Official Secrets Act set up in Adiala Jail is scheduled to indict Imran Khan and PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the cipher case tomorrow.

Qureshi has also petitioned the IHC against his jail trial in the case.

He has argued that without any notification, his trial was being conducted in the jail. He sought a court order for an open trial of the case.

Qureshi has also asked for declaring the October 9 verdict of the trial court null and void and stop the court from indicting him.

ISLAMABAD, OCT 15 /DNA/ – The government has announced a massive cut in petroleum prices. Petrol price has been reduced by Rs 40 per liter while diesel price is reduced by Rs 15. New Prices: Petrol Rs 283. 80 Diesel: Rs 303.18.

Likewise kerosene oil is reduced by Rs 22.43 while price of the light diesel is reduced by Rs 19 per liter. Levy of diesel has been increased by Rs 5 while levy on petrol will remain the same i.e. Rs 60 per liter.

The profit margins of oil marketing companies (OMCs) and petroleum dealers has been increased as the federal government has announced the new fuel prices. Sources told that 88 paisas per litre increase has been recommended by Petroleum Division in the profit margins of oil marketing companies and dealers from October 16.
The federal government has been recommended to hike OMCs profit margins by 47 paisas while dealers’ margins by 41 paisas, they added. Currently, OMCs profit margins is Rs6.94 per litre of petrol and dealers’ margin is Rs7.82 per litre of petrol, according to Petroleum Division sources.