The Punjab Assembly passed the
long-awaited Protection of Women against violence Bill 2015 which contains
remedies for victims of violence, criminalise all forms of violence against
women and also provides them with special centers which remove the usual red
tape hurdles that complicate a woman’s quest for justice.‘Violence’ itself has
been redefined to mean any offence committed against the human body of the
aggrieved person including abetment of an offence, domestic violence, sexual
violence, psychological and emotional abuse, economic abuse, stalking and cyber
crime.A toll-free universal access number (UAN) will be started to receive
complaints while district protection committee will be established to
investigate complaints filed by women.Centres will also be set up for
reconciliation and resolution of disputes.Protection Officers will be liable to
inform the defendant whenever a complaint is received. Offering resistance to
Protection Officers will be punishable by upto six months imprisonment and a
fine of upto Rs500,000.Once a complaint is received its will be updated into a
database which will soon be set up.Filing a false complaint or levelling false
accusations can be pushable by upto three months in jail and or a fine of
between Rs50,000 to Rs100,000.The law will not allow an aggrieved women to be
forced out of her house. The defendant can be made to leave the house for two
days, according to the law.Darul Aman and protections centres will be setup
according to the passed law.Shelter homes will be built for the protection of
aggrieved women, which will provide boarding and lodging facilities to the
victim and children (if any).The defendant will be liable to bear all the
expenses of the complainant women in case the court orders for it.If the
defendant refuses to pay cash then the court can order for the payment to be
deducted from the their salary if applicable.Defendants can be cuffed with GPS
tracking bracelets if ordered by the Court. Those attempting to remove or tamper
with the tracking bracelets will be jailed for upto one year and fined between
Rs50,000 to Rs200,000.Defendants will not be allowed to apply for an arms
license or procure weapons whereas weapons already registered in their name will
have to be submitted in court.The government and the opposition did not provide
much input to the Punjab Protection of Women Act while it was being deliberated
upon in the Punjab Assembly. Most part of the praise and criticism on the law
was made on television screens instead of on floor of the House. The bill was
passed hastily without considering several amendments moved by both the
Opposition and the government. The amendments proposed by the relevant Standing
Committee were also not considered and the bill was passed in the same form as
it was introduced to the House. The bill has been pending before the House since
May last year. The law is being criticized by many for being un-islamic and was
also challenged in the Federal Shariat Court. Reportedly, many treasury and
opposition male lawmakers also objected to the passage of bill.The law provides
for institutionalization of the protection system for prevention of violence
against women and for the protection and rehabilitation of the women victims.
The law encompasses several types of violence against women including domestic
violence, emotional, psychological and verbal abuse, economic abuse, stalking
and cyber-crimes. An aggrieved woman, any person on her behalf or the Women
Protection Officers may file a complaint before the court to pass an interim
order, protection order, residence order and monetary order. The court may
direct the offender to provide shelter and monetary relief to victim or to stay
away from her. The breach of such orders is liable to imprisonment and fine. The
law also provides for establishment of protection systems including appointment
of District Women Protection Committee, Protection Centers and shelter homes
across the province through a phased program to provide relief and protection to
the women. The violence against women centers are aimed at providing sundry
services under one roof to facilitate women. The provision of shelter homes has
also been made for boarding and lodging of women victims of violence and their
dependent children.One thing is very important to mention here that this Bill is
being criticized by different sections of the society.Even it is being
considered in general discussion against the spirit of islam .It is also the
topic of general discussion that this bill is also against the eastern culture.
That bill should be debated in the assembly. Arguments regarding the husband
status in this bill is also discussing in the TV show.The worth mentioning thing
is that there are numerous laws about the women, but thing is to implement with
true spirit. The culture which is being seen in our province , never permit that
, defendants can be cuffed with GPS tracking bracelets if ordered by the Court.