A Senate panel on Thursday passed a bill by majority vote with some amendments for publicly hanging rapists, despite opposition from the PPP, interior and foreign affairs ministries.
Senator Mushtaq Ahmed of Jamaat-i-Islami proposed the bill, which proposes to alter sections 375, 375A, and 376 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and Schedule II of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrCP).
The Senate Standing Committee on Interior, chaired by Senator Mohsin Aziz, debated the changes to repeal Section D and replace it with public hangings for rapists. The desire for public hangings grew after a gang-rape incident on the Lahore-Sialkot highway in September 2020.
Senator Sherry Rehman of the PPP was adamantly opposed to public hangings, preferring life sentences due to erroneous judgments and a lack of evidence tying public executions to deterrence. She emphasized that executions as a form of punishment have been mostly discontinued in civilised societies.
Senator Rehman questioned the proposed revisions’ effectiveness and ethical ramifications, recalling the use of capital penalty during Gen Ziaul Haq’s regime. She contended that public hangings would not prevent crime but would instead deepen societal violence, particularly among marginalized populations.
The committee also adopted Senator Mumtaz Zehri’s “Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2023,” which focuses on proper care and medical examination reports for rape victims through public and private hospitals.
They addressed the issue of private jails by passing the “Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2023,” which was co-sponsored by Senators Mushtaq Ahmed and Samina Mumtaz Zehri, in order to discourage false detention within households.
Additional proposals were addressed throughout the session, including one that was temporarily rejected due to its position as pending litigation, and another that was rejected.
The committee also approved the “Rain Water Harvesting Facility in Urban Areas, Bill 2023,” which had been supported by CDA representatives.
Senator Irfan Siddiqui has been concerned about a missing bill for about 15 months and has decided to obtain a full report from relevant officials.
Senators Saifullah Abro, Samina Mumtaz Zehri, and Sherry Rehman attended the meeting, as were bill movers Senator Mushtaq Ahmed and Palwasha Muhammad Zai Khan, as well as government personnel.
Senate Committee Calls for Amendments to Sindh Child Labour Laws and Addresses Child Abuse Case
The Senate Human Rights Committee, led by Senator Walid Iqbal, convened to address two critical issues: proposed amendments to Sindh’s child labour laws and the tragic case of a nine-year-old girl in Ranipur who worked as a child domestic laborer and allegedly faced abuse.
The human rights secretary, during the briefing, revealed that the incident occurred on August 16, 2023, and the accused were apprehended on the same day. To prevent child domestic labor, he proposed amendments to the Sindh Child Prohibition Employment Act, highlighting its deficiencies. He stressed the necessity of a robust inspection mechanism to monitor cases of child domestic abuse effectively. Furthermore, there was a call for a consistent nationwide definition of “child.”
In response to concerns regarding DNA sample tampering, officials refuted the allegations, explaining that samples were initially sent to Jamshoro and Karachi Institute. Due to technological limitations and the case’s sensitivity, samples were subsequently sent to Lahore, with the DNA report expected in the near future.
The committee expressed dissatisfaction with the Sindh Police’s delay in providing the DNA report, citing evidence tampering as a significant factor contributing to the avoidance of punishment in approximately 78 percent of criminal cases, as noted by Senator Iqbal.
Ayesha Raza Farooq, Chairperson of the National Commission on the Rights of the Child, shared that they had contacted the Sindh Child Protection Authority regarding rumors of another minor being held captive at the same location, but received no response.
The Sindh Social Welfare secretary reported the rescue of eight young girls from the site and a compensation of Rs1 million provided to the deceased’s family. Senator Walid Iqbal recommended that all provinces enact legislation to prevent child domestic abuse and ensure justice in child abuse cases.
Additionally, the committee discussed the illegal arrest of Pastor Luke Vicktor and Ghazala Shafique in Jaranwala, Faisalabad, directing the RPO to submit the inquiry report once completed.
