Speaker Asad Qaiser lauds Shehzad Roy for his efforts against corporal punishment

In a move welcomed by child rights organisations, the National Assembly on Tuesday passed The ICT Prohibition of Corporal Punishment Bill prohibiting corporal punishment in the capital, setting punishments for people physically punishing children.

Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser lauded singer Shehzad Roy for his efforts against corporal punishment.

جسمانی سزاؤں سے بچوں کی ذہنی اور جسمانی نشونما سمیت تعلیمی سرگرمیاں بھی متاثر ہو رہی تھیں، اسد قیصر 
اسپیکر کا کہنا تھا کہ معروف گلوکار و سماجی کارکن اور زندگی ٹرسٹ کے سربراہ شہزاد رائے کی بچوں پر جسمانی تشدد کے تدارک کے لیے کوششیں قابل ستائش ہیں@ShehzadRoy#corporalpunishment

— National Assembly 🇵🇰 (@NAofPakistan) February 23, 2021

Well done @ShehzadRoy 👏🏽👏🏽
Finally, all your untiring efforts paid off. Congratulations 🥳 https://t.co/gijC7vxDSr

— Ziauddin Yousafzai (@ZiauddinY) February 24, 2021

The proposed law will cancel out the provisions of Section 89 of the Pakistan Penal Code, which allows physical punishment “for the benefit” of the child by guardians and teachers.

Section 89 of the Pakistan Penal Code:

Section 89 of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860 (No XLV) allows parents, teachers and other guardians to use moderate and reasonable corporal punishment as a means to correct the behaviour of children below 12 years of age.

قومی اسمبلی میں بچوں پر جسمانی تشدد کے تدارک بل اکثریت رائے سے منظور کر لیا گیا۔
اسپیکر اسد قیصر نے کہا کہ بچوں پر جسمانی تشدد کے تدارک کے لیے قانون سازی تاریخی اہمیت کی حامل ہے،
انہوں نے کہا کہ سکولوں میں بچوں پر جسمانی سزاؤں کے تدارک کے لیے قانون سازی ناگزیر تھی@AsadQaiserPTI

— National Assembly 🇵🇰 (@NAofPakistan) February 23, 2021

The bill was tabled by PML-N MNA Mehnaz Akbar Aziz. It will become a law after the Senate passes it and the president signs it.

Bill on “prohibition of corporal punishment 2019” laid by me and languishing for long in the National Assembly is on its way to passage from NA – A big Thankyou to @ShehzadRoy @zindagitrust to pursue it with the Speaker NA.

— Mehnaz Akber Aziz (@MehnazAkberAziz) February 21, 2021

Today is a big day #BanCorporalPunishment Soon mindset will also change @ZindagiTrust @NAofPakistan @ShireenMazari1 @MehnazAkberAziz @AsadQaiserPTI

— Shehzad Roy (@ShehzadRoy) February 23, 2021

Last year, The Islamabad High Court (IHC) suspended Section 89 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and banned the practice of corporal (physical) punishment by parents, guardians and teachers on children. The decision was announced after singer-activist Shehzad Roy filed a petition in court to ban the use of violence to discipline children.