Even as the advisor to Chief Minister Sindh on Law Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui took to Twitter to announce that the provincial cabinet has approved the Sindh Lawyers Welfare & Protection Bill 2021 for presentation to the Sindh Assembly, the text of the legislation came under criticism on social media.
The bill proposes a number of social welfare initiatives for the legal fraternity in Sindh, but social media commentators expressed their view that some of its priorities may be misdirected. While it promises financial support for lawyers looking to get their daughters married, critics of the bill are pointing to the lack of specific welfare-related facilities for female lawyers.
Commentators on social media highlighted in particular how the welfare-related provisions for Sindh’s legal community have omitted the mention of maternity leave and childcare benefits for female lawyers.
Seriously? No provision for maternity benefits or child care facilities in the Sindh Lawyers’ Welfare and Protection Bill, 2021 but betiyon ki shaadiyan karwa lo… 🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️#misplacedpriorites #womeninlaw #maternityleaveisahumanright #representationmatters pic.twitter.com/jVnh3Rqqxj
— Aneesa Agha (@aneesaagha) January 15, 2022
Were any female lawyers from Sindh even consulted for this? https://t.co/rhEcKaiZ3a
— Nida Usman Ch (@NidaUsmanCh) January 15, 2022
Maternity leave and funds to enable women re-entering the profession after leave for marriage, children, and other career interrupting social demands. https://t.co/pnPvEPKNTh
— abira ashfaq (@oil_opium) January 15, 2022
