Bill tabled in KP Assembly seeking ban on dowry practices
PESHAWAR: A bill was presented in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Thursday seeking ban exploitative dowry practices and lavish spending on wedding functions in the province.
Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) MPA Rashida Riffat tabled the bill in the Assembly seeking a complete ban on the give and take of dowry in wedding ceremonies.
The draft bill is titled ‘Khyber Dowry, Bridal Gift and Marriage Functions Restriction Bill, 2017. The bill proposes that all arrangements related to wedding including gifts and functions should not cost more than Rs 75,000. Moreover, the violation of the law could trigger action against parents and elders of bride and groom. The bill states that only soft drinks will be served in receptions separately organised by the families of groom and bride, while valima reception will have only one dish.
Any one violating the new rule, once legislated, will face up to 3-month imprisonment and Rs 0.2 million fine or both. The bill also says that parents of groom can’t force bride’s family for dowry.
Meanwhile, the KP Assembly demanded of the government to direct the mobile phone companies to stop night packages for the customers. The resolution was moved by Jamaat-e-Islami member Rashida Rifat in the provincial assembly.
The resolution stated that the night packages were spoiling the students as the youth indulged in unhealthy activities through these packages. The resolution was passed unanimously.
Similarly, resolutions of the PML-N member Amna Sardar and PPP MPA Sanaullah about right to vote for oversea Pakistanis and inclusion of a chapter about the life of Abdul Sattar Edhi in the curriculum.
Meanwhile, the speaker assured MPA Fazl Ghafoor that he would take up the issue of security forces personnel attitude at checkposts in the city.
Meanwhile, the provincial assembly also passed a bill regarding job security of the government employees. The bill was presented by Zireen Zia. Health minister Shehram Tarkai assured support for the bill and said that such laws would improve the performance of the health department.