Women-specific bills passed: Fourteen-year jail term for acid-throwers

ISLAMABAD: Acid victims sitting in the gallery of the upper house witnessed the landmark Senate proceedings in awe.

The Senate unanimously pass­ed two historical bills upholding the rights of women, The Acid Control and Acid Crime Prevention Bill 2010 and The Prevention of Anti-Women Practices (Criminal Law Amendment) Bill 2008, on Monday — indicating the changing status of the Pakistani women.

The bill on Acid control and Acid Crime recommends 14-year to lifetime imprisonment sentences and levies fines up to Rs1 million for the perpetrators of the crime.

The Senate unanimously passed the twice-snubbed landmark private bill demanding greater social protection for women, the Prevention of Anti-Women Practices Act 2011, which was authored by PML-QMNA Dr Donya Aziz. It had remained stuck for three years, first in various National Assembly committees and then the house itself.

Reactions

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani hailed the passage of the bills and congratulated the members of parliament asserting: “This reflects the great effort and struggle by women lawmakers of Pakistan which will be praised by international community”.

The bills

Mover of the acid prevention bill Senator Neelofar Bakhtiar expressed gratitude to the members of the Senate for supporting the bills regarding women-specific issues.

Senator Najma Hameed of PML-N also thanked the house and noted: “It’s a historical moment for us. For the first time there has been no opposition for any bill in the upper house.”

The purpose of the bill is to control the import, production, transportation, hoarding, sale and use of acid to prevent misuse and provide legal support to acid and burn victims.

The bill was introduced last year by then MNA Marvi Memon, MNA Begum Shahnaz Sheikh and Advocate Anusha Rehman in a bid to prevent the growing incidents of violence against women. After much scrutiny, the committee of women development approved the bill in October 2011, further amending the Pakistan Penal Code 1860. The amendment in Section 336-B states: “Whoever causes hurt by corrosive substance shall be punished with imprisonment for life or imprisonment of either description which shall not be less than fourteen years with a minimum fine of Rs1 million.”

While appreciating the passage of the Prevention of Anti-Women Practices (Criminal Law Amendment) Bill, Dr Donya Aziz revealed that she and other supporters of the bill in the National Assembly and its standing committee had faced significant resistance.

Fair treatment for the fairer sex

• Forcing a woman into marriage for settling a dispute to be a non- bailable offence

• Bartering a woman in such a way to be punishable by three to five years jail and a fine of Rs0.5 million

• Depriving a woman of her inheritance can lead to imprisonment of between five and 10 years or a fine of Rs1 million or both

• Forced marriages (other than those for settling disputes) to be punishable by between three and 10 years jail and a fine of Rs0.5 million

• Forcing a woman to “marry” the Holy Quran to result in a jail term of three to seven years and a fine of Rs0.5 million

WOMEN HARASSMENT

Women harassment is not uncommon for us.We all are very familiar this  term.In fact most of people even don't consider it a crime.While travelling alone,walking for any reason.While working in different kinds of work places.Some times while learning in Co education  institutes.A women or a girl harass by the people having Devil nature or Intentions of Devil.Their are so many ways to harass a women.Unfortunately these are not consider a sin or crime. Fun poking, Use of Double meaning words are few of them.  A women who goes out due to some reasons become the victim of them. How much worstly they behave with them can't be possible even to explain? Who goes out to bring up their children's or due to some other reasons.Although we have a law against this crime.But as the matter of fact that due to low literacy rate.They are not well educated even to discriminate between right and wrong.Lots of time when she doesn't think it wrong,And for the sake of her family's life and protection.She becomes silent.She doesn't know what can she do?She don't even consult with the employer of her work place.
We always heard and talk to much about the Women empowerment and equality.But we never take it seriously.I just want to share you a beautiful poetry:(

           
sadyoN say dasht-e-zulmat maiN chalti hoi
hawwa ki beti
har aadam zaaday say keh rahi hai
kay maiN to ik dharti hooN
jo phooloN say khooshboouN say,
rangoN say, titliyoN say
saja deti hai gulshan saaray
aasmaaN hooN jis ki aaghosh maiN paltay haiN
sooraj, chaand, sitaray
maiN to misl-e-shamma deti hooN roshni lekin
khood kiuN tarasti hooN roshni kay liyay
na jaanay kitnay wajood ko deti hooN zindagi lekin
khood kiyoN tarasti hooN zindagi kay liyay
meri mata-e-zeest hai
muhabbatoN ka aangan,etmaad ki dehleez,
tahaffoz ki fiza
jo mil jaay to hooN muhabbat ka aab-e-rawaN
jo na mil paay to ban jati hooN ik koh-e-garaaN
apnay zakhmoN maiN soolagti hoi ik aatish fishaaN
maiN koN hooN
kehtay haiN is zamiN pay faqat
maiN hooN aadam ki oomang
"kehtay haiN wajood-e-zan say hai tasveer-e-kainaat maiN raang"
phir kiyoN lamha lamha bikhar rahi hooN
phir kiyoN apnay aangan maiN
aadam zadoN kay haathooN mar rahi hooN
dasht-e-zulmat maiN chalti hoi hawwa ki beti
har aadam zaaday say ye
saadyoN say keh rahi hai...

"YOUTHNESIA"

Youthnesia, Speak for change was held in Jinnah University For Women by the students of Mass Communication on 31st October 2011.It has left lots of memories in the minds of it's viewers for ever.In which different honorable guests came from different walks of life.

• ZAIN GOPALANI : (BADAL DO ZAMANA)

He shared different qualities of a leader.He consider that a leader is the one who is pure like a baby.He could take a charge like Abdul Sattar Edhi.He has to be optimistic, opportunity maker,be a team player like Imran Khan. He said that was Hitler whose one call bring 20 lac German soilder.He added that the leader is one who can leads 10 people.

•  BATOOL FATIMA: who plays for women cricket team as awicket keeper has done her graduation from J.U.W from the department of Mass Communication. 

• FAISAL QURESHI: (Anchor of TV ONE) said "We are the nation of 60% youth."Although we don't have job opportunities.But our man power runs in all over the world.He added that the democracy is the way of life.

             "YOUTH IS N"T THE STATE OF MIND.IT IS A TEMPER OF WILL,A QUALITY OF IMAGINATION,A VIGOR OF EMOTIONS"

• MAZHAR ABBAS:The next guest was very familiar for us.As we have attended his seminars in Press Club of Karachi. He is admired by the mass communicators of JUW.He said "Journalists are vulnerable, recognized but gets threats too." He added to critics on TV is very easy but difficult to analyse it's importance.TV can bring change.that's why Musharraf couldn't bear.So he used his powers against journalists or Media. Ban on journalist is not for him or her.It is for the society.Where he said|" Zindagi itni eham nahe k ahd e wafa ki har baat gawara ki jaye"

A last he suggested us that journalist shoaq ka kaam hai.Don't come only for glamour.Don't take it as only a job.
Shagufta Ejaz,Sikandar baksh,Dr Farhat Essa of Dow medical university,Ali Safina were also invited. In last Madam Shahida Qazi, familiar for every girl shared her experinces as the first women journalist of Pakistan and the former Chair person of the department of Mass Communication. Although it was very tiring day but anyways it was one of the memorable day for us.As we were gathered there before the time because we had to write a feature on that event as the assignment of our subject of Feature and Article writing.

Image Of A Women In Media UNESCO Report 2009

Allah has made a women very sensitive, loyal, emotional and that are few reasons which differentiate her from other creations..Here the thing which I want to discuss that how a women's sentiments get hurt day by day from her surroundings..When she become a daughter, so she feels so secure when her hands hold by her parents..Similarly when she is at home..Their are number of people who protects her care and support her..They make her bold and courageous..That is place where she learns how to interact with society being a girl..And what is right and wrong? and what to do and what not to do??.But once she get out of her home so she has to face different issues..As we have black sheeps every where in our society..No matter where they are, He may be boss or any colloquies etc..These people are the big curse of the society..They hurts a women by touchier with different aspects..

                                  If I talk about the the image which media portray of our working women is actually shows that how our media is biassed and partially. They portray that we have very ill mannered women, who don't care her family and relations and always prefer their work on family and their children. Most of drama serials, TV shows and different ads are the doing the same thing as to make money and get fame.And that's why they think that a women is their tool to do as they want... 

                          According to UNESCO report of 2009 on the image of women in media. 

• The glamorous sex kitten 
• The sainted mother
• The cleverest witch
• The hard faced corporate and political climber.
•  Media persons are responsible      

and that is the reason that is the reason that our women who are needy have to face number of problems. Fun poking, double meaning words are few of those intentions of devils.As we have 56 womens who are working on soft beats like sports, events,social and education..You will not mostly see a women on important beats such as political and crime beat..I believe that it is obviously  in a fever of any girl that they are not giving you the crime beat for security reasons..But why not a women in finance, business and political beats.

         But here my only concern is why media portray a women wrong..It could only portray only certain group but I am really sorry to say that you are wrong here.. And why don't you portray our women loyal with her family with her parents and husband,hard working..And let me clear that Indian dramas and movies can never be the ideal standard living of any girl..If I talk about myself I really hate Indian drams.And I watch rarely movies.And always prefer a good program.. Because I believe that Indians are showing a women according to their society and norms.But we have a very high and respectful level and we never want to expose our self as any identity..  

                                     

All karachi Debate Contest 2011

All karachi Debate Contest 2011 held in Jinnah University For Women. Attendants were from different universitie sand colleges,including Sir Syed university, Karachi University and Jinnah University For Women. Abid Ali Umang, Faisal Subzwari and Faisal Qureshi were the guest of that contest.The topic was "Media inteshar ka Zemadar hai" As a matter of fact that is the debate was highly appreciated by the guest speakers.Faisal Qureshi said "Media is responsible at some extent but not only media, and it is the mirror of society". He said that we had those people who create panic among us..And Media broadcasts those things which happens among us..It shows only reality not fake..

As a student of Mass Communication, I attended seminar but most of my class fellows didn't pay visit to there because they thought that How can they agree that Media is responsible as a student of Media? But I think we can solve this problem which media creates in some how by admitting this problem..As we all know that Media is a very successful medium nowadays..And we can't disagree with it's importance.But we can change the things and can make them better..And this is true that Specially Electronic Media Gives importance on some issues which are in favour of them sometimes..As Media have a very big responsibility on their shoulders..They should make their packages on the basis of facts and figure..Should not be bias and work for the welfare of society not for making money..They must know the consequences of any controversial statement which the pass very easily...Media should work as impartially...Faisal Subzwari said" Our Media is not much mature enough" Their are many examples of immaturity of media..Covering of Sania Mirza and Shoaib Malik's wedding too much and the wedding ceremony of Prince William and Kate Middelton etc..So there are things to work out for the betterment of Media and Society.As we all know very well that Media is the fourth and important pillar of any society..So it needs our attention

Another violence in Karachi...

  Thursday evening,when i was returning home after university got off.I was reading a book.Suddenly when we got to the ending of flyover.Then the group of people who attacked on our bus by straight firing.But the dilemma was that there was police mobile standing  before and after the flyover. And they were watching us as they didn't have any responsibility of citizens protection on their shoulders.A camera man of a news channel was making movie over there.We were very helpless when the driver stopped the bus after the violence they were creating.People started shouting and asked the driver not to stop the bus here.And moved quickly because few of them got badly injured.When i saw at the back there was blood on the floor.When we got Al khidmat hospital there were people gathered to help us.One boy asked me is there any one from female who got injured? I replied No! Then driver refused us to drive any more.But that man forced him to drive and he said me not to be worry..As a matter of fact,I felt myself help less which i had never felt before.This was the worst day of my life. I want to ask to the authorities what should the students do? Either to stop their studies and stay at home and save their lives or to Lay down their lives in the way of getting education.What was the sin of those who injured and one who killed?   It's my request to do something to make peace in Karachi ,who always get disturb. And please make it sure that police is working or standing like a statue on the place of effecting area.  

Spain to Build High Speed Rail Network Linking Madina-Mecca in Saudi Arabia

A Spanish consortium has won a contract worth 7.0 billion euros ($10 billion) to build a high-speed rail network linking Medina, Jeddah and the Muslim pilgrimage site of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, Spanish media said on Tuesday.

Spain has been a world leader in high-speed rail networks and now has the longest such system in Europe, ahead of France. The “Al Haramain” project is aimed at transporting Muslim pilgroms between Jeddah and the two holy cities of Medina and Mecca, a distance of 450 kilometres. Theannual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca attracts some 2.5 million Muslims from around the world for a stay of two weeks on average.  The winning consortium will supply the high-speed trains and maintain the line for a period of 12 Years.

Hats Off To Our National Heroes!!

TWILIGHT HERE....

CITIZEN JOURNALISM

Karachi: A seminar was held in "JINNAH UNIVERSITY FOR WOMEN" by the collaboration of Dawn and Jinnah university.Owais Mangalwalla, who is the producer of up coming show "Mere Khaber Show" on 29 January 2011 was the guest speaker of the seminar.In which he discussed Citizen Journalism" He said a good Citizen Journalist should follow these steps are:

• SHARING OF EXPERIENCE: A good journalist should share his experience.
• SHARING OF OPINION: Use different tools to share your opinion. Write on blogs to share your opinion to everyone.
• THE SHARING OF DISCOVERY: Whatever you have seen and you believe that it has news worthy.You should share it.

• SHARING OF EXPATIATES:Similarly share your expatiates as well.

Similarly he gave 5 key points to become a good journalist are as follows:

• PRESENT NEWS IN REAL FORM:What ever it is, just try to present it as it is.
• EYE TO SEE NEWS: Events are all around us.You can report on that. Comman things and comman event can also report.
• WRITE YOUR POINT OF VIEW:
• DO NOT EVER THING THAT YOUR TOPIC IS BORING: Just remember one thing yhat you can do it well.
• EVERY DAY ISN'T A BIG DAY: Be descriptive but it should be limited.Unnecessary details are not required. 

Similarly he said  to be accurate. Your grammar and vocabulary should be correct.