Senior Member Special Monitoring Unit CM Secretariat Salman Sufi has said that Protection of Women against Violence Bill, focuses on redressing the grievances of women victims of violence besides their legal assistance and rehabilitation.
He was giving a briefing to representatives of civil society on the Violence Bill at his office, here today. The delegation of civil society included Mumtaz Mughal, Ruhi Maqbool, Ume Laila, Salman Abid, Humaira Aslam, Sumaira Salim, Shabnam Khan, Peter Jacob, Nabila Feroze, Farzana, Samson Salamat, Fakhra Tehreem, Abid Ali, Naureen Raja and others. Salman Sufi said that wrong interpretation of the Violence Bill is causing confusion. He said that before the passage of the Violence Bill, detailed consultations were made with assembly members, civil society and religious leaders for addressing any objection. He said that no religion allows trampling of the basic rights of any member of the society. He said that word ‘person’ has been used in the bill without any discrimination of gender and it is not specifically against men but anyone involved in perpetrating violence. He said that through the implementation of the mechanism evolved under Violence Bill, immediate redressal of the grievances of the victim and provision of medico-legal assistance has been ensured under one-roof. Salman Sufi said that Violence against Women Centers are being set up in all districts for providing protection to women and the foundation stone of a center has been laid in Multan which will start functioning in May. He said that it would be the first center of its kind in South Asia. Salman Sufi further said that awareness campaign has been started for controlling violence against women and civil society and media can play an active role in this regard. Salman Sufi said that change in social mindset is of vital importance. He said that it is necessary to inform women about their rights and the measures taken for their protection. He said that 99 percent people are supporting the bill and only a few such elements are opposing it as want to keep women deprived of their basic rights. He said that implementation of the mechanism evolved under the bill will help eliminate
Mumtaz Mughal, Salman Abid, Ruhi Maqbool, Peter Jacob and Ume Laila appreciated the efforts of Punjab government with regard to passage of the Violence Bill and assured all out cooperation in future.