The bill, which bans such punishment at school and workplaces, will now move to the Senate for approval
The National Assembly passed a bill banning corporal punishment in the federal capital and set out penalties for those physically punishing the children. The ICT Prohibition of the Corporal Punishment Bill bans any kind of corporal punishment, even light in nature. The ban stands for such acts at the workplace, all types of educational institutions including formal, informal, and religious — both public and private, in child care institutions including foster care, rehabilitation centers, and any other alternative care settings.
The bill has been hailed by the rights organization. The bill, which will now move to the Senate for approval, will cancel out provisions of Section 89 which allows teachers and guardians to administer physical punishment “in good faith” and “for the benefit” of the child. The bill was initially presented as a private bill in 2019.
Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari presented an amendment, clarifying the procedure for children to forward their complaints, removing ambiguity. The complaints need to be made to a court or a magistrate if corporal punishment is handed out to anyone. The amendment was made part of the bill before the lower house gave clause by clause approval to it.
Well-known singer and human rights personality Shahzad Roy, who runs Zindagi Trust, has been one of the people seeking a ban on corporal punishment. He said that the bill’s approval will protect the children and make society more just and kind.
“When a child gets physical punishment, society is telling them — and an entire generation — that violence is a valid means of resolving a problem. This law will not just protect our children but also lay the foundation for a safer, kinder, and more peaceful Pakistan,” said Roy.
Approval and implementation of such a bill will help society find newer ways of dealing with children. Often children are abused physically in the name of discipline and many face long-term harm. The parent, guardians, and teachers should use methods that are more engaging in order to help their children become better citizens.