Islamabad, Aug 4 (IANS) The National Assembly, the lower house of Pakistan’s parliament, Tuesday unanimously passed a bill against domestic violence to protect women, children and families vulnerable to crimes at home.
Moving The Prevention of Domestic Violence Bill, 2008, Yasmeen Rehman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) that leads the federal coalition stressed on the need to institutionalise measures to prevent and protect women and children from domestic violence.

Under the bill, APP news agency reported, protection committees comprising police officers have been suggested at the sub-district level to assist aggrieved people and relocate them if necessary for their protection.

The protection committees would not only create awareness among women about their rights but would also provide legal protection and medical aid.

The bill provides that a court, at any stage of hearing, may direct the accused to pay monetary relief to meet the expenses incurred and losses suffered by the aggrieved person, including loss of earning, medical expenses and maintenance of aggrieved women and their children.

Under the bill, repeat offenders can be jailed for a year and fined Rs.200,000.

If a woman registers a false case or if it is proved wrong in court, the complainant can be jailed for six months and fined Rs.50,000.