Ijaz Kakakhel Islamabad
A legislative body of Upper House of parliament on Friday stressed the need for enhancing the conviction rate in child abuse cases, with a special focus on raising awareness against this menace.
The committee also recommended that websites containing questionable material should be banned, as the internet has adverse effects on the younger generation. These views were expressed during a Meeting of Senate Standing Committee on Interior, which was held at Parliament House with Senator Mohsin Aziz in Chair.
The committee was briefed by the FIA and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority on actions against the menace of the growing exposure of children to online pornography. Officials apprised the committee that a specialized unit named the “Unit to Counter Online Child Abuse” has been dedicated to countering child abuse. Moreover, a total of 184 FIRs have been registered on child pornography in the last two years, and 225 offenders have been arrested. Currently, the conviction rate in child pornography cases stands at 27 percent.
A Meeting of Senate Standing Committee on Interior was held at Parliament House on Friday with Senator Mohsin Aziz in Chair. The Senate Committee deliberated on the Bill titled “The Cutting of Trees (Prohibition) (Amendment) Bill, 2023.” Senator Palwasha Muhammad Zai Khan, the bill’s mover, stated that the aim of the bill is to protect the environment of the city, given the country’s current climate crisis. She emphasized that the bill serves as an epitome for the provinces. She added that centuries-old trees have been cut down to meet the housing needs of the city, and such practices should be stopped once and for all.
