Manan Mandokhail, Qaseem Shah:
QUETTA – A heated debate and pandemonium gripped the Balochistan Assembly on Monday as Parliamentary Secretary for Women Development, Dr. Rubaba Khan Buledi, presented a bill aimed at curbing harassment against women in the province.
Sponsored
While tabling the anti-women harassment bill, Dr. Buledi passionately urged lawmakers to pass the legislation, stating that several harassment cases were pending due to the absence of a legal framework. “Without this law, the victims are left without justice, and the accused cannot be prosecuted,” she told the house.
However, as she continued presenting the bill, opposition members, including Zabit Ali Reki of JUI-F and others, stood up in protest. They accused the government of ignoring the opposition during the drafting process. “We respect women and support their rights, but our voices must also be heard. Why does the committee on this critical issue consist only of male members?” one opposition lawmaker questioned.
The situation quickly escalated into a shouting match, disrupting the proceedings and forcing the chair to intervene. Due to the uproar, the assembly session could not continue, and the bill’s tabling was postponed once again.
This is not the first time the bill has been delayed, raising concerns among women’s rights advocates and civil society members who demand swift legislative action against harassment in the province.
