The 23rd session of the National Assembly of Pakistan was held in June 2010 and continued for 24 days after it commenced on 3rd June 2010. Although, it was mainly a budget session for the fiscal year 2009-10 and much of the focus of the parliamentarians remained on budget related issues, some other important business particularly having connection with human rights was also part of the agenda of the House proceedings.
One such item on the agenda was the introduction of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Ordinance 2010. It aims to mitigate the hardships being faced by women. It proposed amendments in the Code of Criminal Procedure 1998 regarding extending the concession of bail to women except in the cases of offences relating to terrorism, financial corruption, murder or offences punishable with death or imprisonment for life. It also proposes that the court, with regards to the facts and circumstances of the case, may release the accused women on bail even in the above said cases.
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