Legislation proposed to protect rights defenders.

PESHAWAR -- Two women MPAs of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek Insaf have submitted the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Human Rights Defenders (Recognition, Protection) Bill, 2019, to the provincial assembly's secretariat on Monday.

A statement issued here said the bill had been submitted in light of the commitments made by the provincial government in the human rights policy notified by the law, human rights and parliamentary department in 2018, which called for the enactment of the law to recognise and protect the human rights' defenders (HRDs).

MPAs Asia Saleh Khattak and Dr Asia Assad submitted the bill.

The statement said the proposed law was meant to provide recognition, respect, protection, promotion and wellbeing to human rights defenders in the province and ensure the fulfilment of their rights and responsibilities.

PTI's two women MPAs submit bill to assembly secretariat

It added that the bill would ensure provision of assistance and protection, where needed and in any manner possible, to all human rights defenders working individually or an association with others in carrying out their core functions within the prescribed manner of provincial and national laws.

The bill describes the HRDs as those who whether paid or working payment acts or seeks to defend, promote, protect or strive for the defence, protection and realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms...