Daily Times

KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed amendments in two private member bills to ban corporal punishment to students and establishment of Ittehad University.

The session started with Deputy Speaker Shehla Raza in the chair. The amendment in bill on establishment of Ittehad University was presented by PPP lawmaker Ghazala Sial while second amendment in bill on banning physical punishment to students was moved by PML-F member Mehtab Akbar Rashidi. The House sent a bill on Sindh Zakat and Usher (Amendment) 2016 to the relevant standing committee.

Earlier, before tabling the amendments in the bills, Senior Minister Nisar Ahmed Khuhro presented a standing committee report in the house.

Mehtab Akbar Rashidi informed the House that the self respect of children is necessary and there are no acceptations of punishing children nor any religion or decent society allowed such acts.

“It is an indecent act that a child is attending school and teacher giving him physical punishments,” she added.

PPP lawmaker Sharmila Faruqui pointed out that this bill was drafted and prepared by her ministry when she was advisor to the CM, but it is unfortunate that the standing committee did not invite her for consultation.

Khuhro said the standing committee’s report was released few days back, but presented in the house today (Tuesday).

The report acknowledges the names of Mehtab Akbar Rashidi and Sharmila Faruqui.

He said the bill Sharmila was referring the bill was never introduced in the house.

“Today is private member day, as we could not discuss such bill that was prepared by her (Sharmila) when she was advisor.”

Later, the bill was passed by the House unanimously.

Ghazala Sial presented a private bill on Ittehad University that was passed by the assembly after some amendments.

Khuhro presented a resolution seeking permission from the deputy speaker for sending a bill on Sindh Zakat and Usher (Amendment) 2016 to the standing committee. The House sent it to the standing committee.

Later, the deputy speaker adjourned the proceedings until Wednesday (today) 10am.