Parliament passes bills against rape, honour killings

[Kabira]

ISLAMABAD:

As part of pro-women legislation, the Parliament unanimously passed on Thursday the anti-honour and anti-rape bills.

Under the new law, relatives of the victim would only be able to pardon the killer of capital punishment, but they would still face a mandatory life sentence of twelve-and-a-half years.

In the anti-rape bill, a provision to conduct DNA tests on both the alleged victim and perpetrator has been added for the first time.

Rape of minors, as well as the mentally and physically ill, would become punishable by death.

PTI wants strict punishment for killers

“Laws are supposed to guide better behaviour, not allow destructive behaviour to continue with impunity,” former senator Sughra Imam, who initially tabled the bill, told media.



Some 500 women are killed each year in Pakistan at the hands of family members over perceived damage to “honour” that can involve eloping, fraternising with men or any other infraction against conservative values that govern women’s modesty.

In a majority of cases, the victim is a woman and the killer is a relative who escape punishment by seeking forgiveness for the crime from family members.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/1194588/parliament-passes-bills-rape-honour-killings/

 

[WaLeEdK2]

Good development.

 

[Kompromat]

That is such a proud day for us .

 

[Imran Khan]

08:49 PM, October 06, 2016 / LAST MODIFIED: 09:02 PM, October 06, 2016
Pakistan passes anti-honour killing, anti-rape bills

Dawn, Islamabad
A joint session of Pakistan's Parliament today unanimously approved anti-honour killing and anti-rape bills moved by PPP Senator Farhatullah Babar.

The legislation on honour killings will introduce strict punishment for the convicts making it tougher than the ordinary murder cases.

Under the new law relatives of the victim would only be able to pardon the killer if he is sentenced to capital punishment. However, the culprit would still face a mandatory life sentence of twelve-and-a-half years.

READ ALSO: Pakistani star killed 'by brother for honour'

Before moving the Anti-Rape Bill, Babar informed the joint session: "The bill will prove to be effective in curbing rape cases across the country."

Debating during the session, Law Minister Zaid Hamid revealed that the perpetrator of the crime will also be medically examined after this bill is turned into law.

"The verdicts in the rape cases will have to be given within three months, with the right to appeal in six months," he added.


"The police station will be obliged to inform the victims of their legal rights," Hamid said, adding, "We have made it mandatory that the culprit must be imprisoned for 25 years."

He further said that rape of minors, as well as the mentally and physically ill, has also become punishable.

Former PPP senator Sughra Imam, who had initially tabled both bills, said: “No law will eradicate a crime entirely but the law should be a deterrent. Laws are supposed to guide better behaviour, not allow destructive behaviour to continue with impunity.”

Dasti downplays importance of bills

Speaking during the joint session, Jamshed Dasti lamented the introduction of bills saying that the session had been called to discuss the matter of Kashmir but it has been overshadowed.

“Indian forces are standing on the border, hundreds of our soldiers are injured and many have embraced martyrdom. There was no point of bringing up this bill today. We had to send a message to our enemy, but this bill has overshadowed it,” he said.

This Parliament has been subdued by the American NGOs and their Jewish agenda, which is against Pakistan.

He also lamented that “today even 5th graders are aware of sex education”.

If anyone talks about Islam and Quran, people possessing no knowledge of the religion pass decree on it to pander to the international terrorist America.

In July, days after the 'honour' killing of social media celebrity Qandeel Baloch, a committee comprising lawmakers from both the lower and upper houses of parliament unanimously approved two bills aimed at tackling 'honour' killings and boosting rape convictions.

The perpetrators of honour killings – in which the victim, normally a woman, is killed by a relative – often walk free because they can seek forgiveness for the crime from another family member.

Rape conviction rates meanwhile are close to zero per cent, largely due to the law's reliance on circumstantial evidence and a lack of forensic testing.

The law minister had earlier said, "We have plugged all loopholes in the anti-honour killing legislation."

In the anti-rape bill, “a provision to conduct DNA tests on both the alleged victim and perpetrator has been added for the first time”, he said. The rape of minors, as well as the mentally and physically ill, would become punishable by death.

A 2005 amendment to the law pertaining to 'honour' killings prevented men who kill female relatives pardoning themselves as an "heir" of the victim.

But punishment was left to a judge's discretion when other relatives of the victim forgive the killer – a loophole which critics say is exploited.

Rights groups and politicians have for years called for tougher laws to tackle perpetrators of violence against women in Pakistan and the move follows a slew of high-profile killings in the country.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's ruling PML-N party has a large majority of seats in the lower house and the bills are believed to have enough backing from opposition parties to pass in the senate too.

Copyright: Dawn/ANN

 

[Godman]

Big step forward by Pakistan

 

[OB909Alpha]

Waiting for the implementations sir.

 

[M.SAAD]

Thats a good move ..

 

[duhastmish]

Great step, in our region we all know how many rape cases goes away without reporting. Because a lack of strong law. This should be implemented asap.
And make way for rest of the South Asian people to follow and improvise their laws.

 

[maximuswarrior]

Very postive. Let's hope the law is followed in letter and spirit.

 

[Indika]

08:49 PM, October 06, 2016 / LAST MODIFIED: 09:02 PM, October 06, 2016
Pakistan passes anti-honour killing, anti-rape bills

Dawn, Islamabad
A joint session of Pakistan's Parliament today unanimously approved anti-honour killing and anti-rape bills moved by PPP Senator Farhatullah Babar.

The legislation on honour killings will introduce strict punishment for the convicts making it tougher than the ordinary murder cases.

Under the new law relatives of the victim would only be able to pardon the killer if he is sentenced to capital punishment. However, the culprit would still face a mandatory life sentence of twelve-and-a-half years.

READ ALSO: Pakistani star killed 'by brother for honour'

Before moving the Anti-Rape Bill, Babar informed the joint session: "The bill will prove to be effective in curbing rape cases across the country."

Debating during the session, Law Minister Zaid Hamid revealed that the perpetrator of the crime will also be medically examined after this bill is turned into law.

"The verdicts in the rape cases will have to be given within three months, with the right to appeal in six months," he added.


"The police station will be obliged to inform the victims of their legal rights," Hamid said, adding, "We have made it mandatory that the culprit must be imprisoned for 25 years."

He further said that rape of minors, as well as the mentally and physically ill, has also become punishable.

Former PPP senator Sughra Imam, who had initially tabled both bills, said: “No law will eradicate a crime entirely but the law should be a deterrent. Laws are supposed to guide better behaviour, not allow destructive behaviour to continue with impunity.”

Dasti downplays importance of bills

Speaking during the joint session, Jamshed Dasti lamented the introduction of bills saying that the session had been called to discuss the matter of Kashmir but it has been overshadowed.

“Indian forces are standing on the border, hundreds of our soldiers are injured and many have embraced martyrdom. There was no point of bringing up this bill today. We had to send a message to our enemy, but this bill has overshadowed it,” he said.

This Parliament has been subdued by the American NGOs and their Jewish agenda, which is against Pakistan.

He also lamented that “today even 5th graders are aware of sex education”.

If anyone talks about Islam and Quran, people possessing no knowledge of the religion pass decree on it to pander to the international terrorist America.

In July, days after the 'honour' killing of social media celebrity Qandeel Baloch, a committee comprising lawmakers from both the lower and upper houses of parliament unanimously approved two bills aimed at tackling 'honour' killings and boosting rape convictions.

The perpetrators of honour killings – in which the victim, normally a woman, is killed by a relative – often walk free because they can seek forgiveness for the crime from another family member.

Rape conviction rates meanwhile are close to zero per cent, largely due to the law's reliance on circumstantial evidence and a lack of forensic testing.

The law minister had earlier said, "We have plugged all loopholes in the anti-honour killing legislation."

In the anti-rape bill, “a provision to conduct DNA tests on both the alleged victim and perpetrator has been added for the first time”, he said. The rape of minors, as well as the mentally and physically ill, would become punishable by death.

A 2005 amendment to the law pertaining to 'honour' killings prevented men who kill female relatives pardoning themselves as an "heir" of the victim.

But punishment was left to a judge's discretion when other relatives of the victim forgive the killer – a loophole which critics say is exploited.

Rights groups and politicians have for years called for tougher laws to tackle perpetrators of violence against women in Pakistan and the move follows a slew of high-profile killings in the country.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's ruling PML-N party has a large majority of seats in the lower house and the bills are believed to have enough backing from opposition parties to pass in the senate too.

Copyright: Dawn/ANN

more the laws greater the loopholes. It is simply the implementation of law in letter & spirit that matters.

 

[Rank]

LOL kabhe kise nay khali Labour law parha hey Pakistan ka ? jitna bara Pakistan ka labour law hey uthnay may Srilanka, India, NEpal, Iran ka pora law ajata hey hahhahaha oo bhai asay law baray hain IMPLEMENTATION bataoo IMPLEMENTATION ? eek choor jhooot boolta ja raha hey floor of the house may usko tu tum farig karnahi sakhtay ...

 

[Imran Khan]

more the laws greater the loopholes. It is simply the implementation of law in letter & spirit that matters.

bhai normal killing case take years . this law will serve the justice speedy . nothing loope hole in it

 

[Major d1]

It;s all about domestic violence. At first need to stop the root causes.

 

[Indika]

bhai normal killing case take years . this law will serve the justice speedy . nothing loope hole in it

Nothing prevents them from enforcing existing laws against murder in a time bound manner. Issue is if the police is not interested in delivering justice no law is good enuf. All that they will do is just drag the investigation mishandle the evidence or scare the victim themselves. Instead of passing the law which is a eye wash they should reform the police system to function effectively without interference.

 

[sparten]

Hmmmm......I do have some reservations; specifically about the in camera provisions.