ISLAMABAD: A bill that would have allowed rape offenders to be publicly hanged was vetoed by the Senate on Monday by an overwhelming majority of 24 against 14.
In an uncommon move, Senator Mushtaq Ahmad of Jamaat-i-Islami presented a resolution asking for the quick discussion of Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill 2023. The PPP, PTI, and PML-N all banded together to oppose the bill.
The plan, which sought to change the Criminal Procedure Code and Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) to allow public executions of rapists, was first opposed by Senator Sherry Rehman, vice president of the PPP.
“The Peoples Party has consistently opposed the death penalty out of principle, whether in public or private settings. The PPP vehemently opposes rape as a horrible and serious crime, but it hasn’t shown that asking for the death sentence or public executions, as they are done in some other countries, will stop sexual offenses,” the speaker said.
A PML-Q member claims that the death penalty is carried out in the US by lethal injection; today’s House meeting will discuss election tampering.
She noted, “Public hanging will be desired for other crimes as well if it is justified for one crime.”
Senator Irfanul Haq Siddiqui, the leader of the PML-N, disagreed with the measure as well, claiming that Pakistan was perceived negatively due to extremism, domestic abuse, oppression, and harassing of women.
In light of the seriousness of the offense, he said, severe punishment was necessary. He did not, however, agree with Sherry Rehman’s argument that the death penalty should be abolished. Children and society at large would not benefit from public hangings, according to Senator Siddiqui’s observation.
According to him, the proposed laws would encourage brutality and harm Pakistan’s reputation abroad.
Ishaq Dar, Leader of the House in the Senate, also argued against the amendment, citing the existence of the death penalty as a legal punishment for the same offense.
Senator Taj Haider of the PPP emphasized the need for changes to the criminal justice and jail systems, including education aimed at transforming prisoners into law-abiding members of society. He observed that public hangings undermine regard for humanity and held the view that regard for humanity can aid in the improvement of society.
Additionally opposed to the proposed legislation, PTI attorney Ali Zafar advocated for bolstering the system of investigation and prosecution.
According to Tahir Bizenjo of the National Party, if justice was provided and the underlying causes of crime were addressed, there wouldn’t be a need for executions.
Public hanging, according to former state minister for parliamentary affairs Shahadat Awan, would go against the human dignity protected by Article 14 of the constitution.
But according to PML-Q’s Kamil Ali Agha, poison injections are used in the US to carry out the death penalty and are made public when their recordings are made available.
PTI Senator Humayun Mohmand backed the proposal, arguing that nations who execute criminals in public for offenses like rape and murder had reduced crime rates.
According to Senator Mushtaq Ahmed, the law would eradicate cruelty and barbarism within communities rather than encourage them. JUI-F’s Maulana Daiz backed the amendment as well.
Protest March
A demonstration against suspected election tampering that took place in the House earlier in the day was a further highlight of the events.
Senators from the PTI, JI, JUI-F, and NP organized a rally standing in front of the chairman’s podium at the beginning of the session. The MPs carried posters with statements like “rigged election unacceptable” and entered the House donning black armbands.
They gathered in front of the Senate chairman’s main dais and demanded the right to speak on the subject. Additionally, they held signs that said, “Fake election unacceptable.”
The Senate’s chairman insisted that before the members could debate the issue, a motion had to be made in the House.
JUI-F The first person to remark on the matter, Senator Kamran Murtaza, emphasized that while disruptions against election tampering have stopped operations in Balochistan, the issue still exists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh.
He remarked, “The polls took place despite disobeying the constitution, but today we are in violation of the public mandate,” alluding to the fact that the nation’s elections were held longer than the 90-day maximum allowed by the constitution.
Senator Kamran stated that the credibility of polls conducted in the most populous region of Punjab was called into question by the admission made by ex commissioner Rawalpindi, Liaquat Ali Chattha, that election tampering occurred under his supervision. He said that winning candidates and public servants were even calling into question the integrity of the voting process.
Senator Ali Zafar of the PTI added that the House should address the matter of election tampering right away.
Sen. Sadiq Sanjrani, the chairman of the Senate, concurred that the House would stop question hour and not resume regular business in order to undertake a comprehensive discussion on the subject of suspected rigging today.
SOURCE: DAWN NEWS
