Under the act, the offenders will be registered in an official directory
PESHAWAR
Deputy Speaker of the Provincial Assembly Mehmood Jan said on Tuesday that “Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Acid and Burn Crimes (Prevention and Rehabilitation) Act 2023” is a good step and the provincial government is open to implement it as early as possible.
He expressed these views during a briefing held to apprise the stakeholders on the final draft of the bill prepared under the supervision of Parliamentary Women Caucus and Inter Insight Institute.
Chairperson, Parliamentary Women Caucus, Dr Samira Shams, Working Committee members MPA Aisha Bano, Asia Khattak and Madiha Nisar attended the meeting and apprised Deputy Speaker of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly regarding the pros and cons of the bill.
Officials of the health and social welfare department were also present on the occasion.
Dr Samira Shams lauded the role of all relevant stakeholders on the preparation of draft of the Act.
She said that the Women’s Caucus is credited with passing other similar laws related to the protection of women in the province.
She appreciated the efforts of the women lawmakers in the working committee and praised their performance.
The working group of the Parliamentary Women Caucus under the leadership of MPA Ayesha Naeem has finalized the law.
Deputy Speaker Mehmood Jan on this occasion directed the lawmakers to table the act in the assembly as soon as possible and also asked the relevant authorities to initiate work on preparation of the rules of business within three months.
Under the act, within three months, the provincial government will establish a rehabilitation center for acid attack victims.
The government can declare any existing medical or rehabilitation center as a rehabilitation center, the briefing said.
The provision of financial assistance to individuals has also been legalised, and the victim’s medical expenses will also be borne by the perpetrator, including plastic surgery.
Sections 336A and 336B of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) will apply to the commission of the offence, which may be dealt with within 90 days.
The acid and burn crime monitoring fund will also be established under this act.
The experts told the participants about the law that the medical examination and treatment of a person affected by acid attack will be carried by a qualified medical officer free of cost.
Under the act, the offenders will be registered and a directory will be made.
The Act prohibits revealing the victim’s identity without his or her family’s permission.
