LAHORE, March 8: Domestic violence is pervasive in Punjab therefore it is the prime responsibility of the government to take immediate steps to stop it through legislation and declare it a crime. Addressing a press conference here on March 7, civil society representatives called upon the government to move the draft bill titled Punjab Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Bill 2012 in its current session of the Punjab Assembly to provide support and protection to victims. The speakers said the government should ensure early passage of the bill and its effective implementation as a law. They said the domestic violence bill should be incorporated in the ‘empower women package’, which was going to be announced by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on the eve of International … [Read more...]