76
Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani on Wednesday sought a report from the Committee of Law and Justice over amendments recommended by the Committee of Interior seeking public hanging of abductors who kill or sexually assault minors.
The bill proposed by the committee, entitled the Criminal Law Amendment Act 2018, seeks to amend the Pakistan Penal Code Act 1860's Section 364-A (kidnapping or abducting a person under the age of 14) so that the punishment for the crime is a public execution.
Earlier in the day, Senate Standing Committee on Interior Chairman Rehman Malik had requested the Senate to take up a bill seeking public hanging of those found guilty of kidnapping or raping children under the age of 14.
Debating the recommendations, Senator Hasil Bizenjo and Senator Farhatullah Babar strongly opposed the amendments.
"Zainab [rape and murder] incident is unfortunate but the demand for public hanging is also not correct," Bizenjo said.
"One person was hanged publicly in Lahore during Zia's era. We should not revert to that," Babar added. "If the law is amended today, the demands will not stop and calls for hanging everyone will be raised."
Barrister Saif and Senator Sitara Ayaz claimed that sexual abuse of children is rampant at Pir Wadhai stop in Rawalpindi but no action had been taken.
Read more: No, death penalty is not a solution to child sexual abuse
Chairman Senate sought a reply from the law ministry on the issue and sent the matter to the committee on law and justice for further deliberations.
He also asked the law minister to participate in the committee's discussions on the issue.
Section 364-A currently reads: "Whoever kidnaps or abducts any person under the [age of fourteen] in order that such person may be murdered or subjected to grievous hurt... or to the lust of any person [sic] shall be punished with death."
The amendment suggested by the committee on interior seeks to add the phrase, "by hanging publicly", after the word "death" in the current legislation, the letter said.
The bill seeks the same amendment to the CrPC, 1898, Schedule II, Column 1 against Section 364-A.
The committee's request for amendments to the PPC and CrPC come a day after the arrest of a suspected serial rapist and murderer in Kasur was announced by the Punjab government, concluding a two-week-long manhunt launched after the rape and murder of six-year-old Zainab Amin sparked outrage across the country.
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, while announcing the arrest at a press conference last night, had seconded the demand for a public hanging of the culprit after conviction in court, and stressed that this is what Zainab’s family, he himself, and the entire nation wants.
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (76) Closed
Jan 24, 2018 02:37pm
It is agreeable plus the age should be till 16 years.
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 02:41pm
Absolutely, this has to done and it should be made a part of law
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 02:44pm
Why just 14, make it under 18....
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 02:45pm
Rehman Malik needs to be made an example of.
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 02:46pm
It will be great move if implemented. All those who have even little fault in their minds, will be stopped from doing this crime.
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 02:49pm
The best decision by the Senate.
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 02:49pm
Let's make this as a legislation and implemented straight way by starting with little Zanib's murderer. Do not delay!
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 03:13pm
Good
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 03:14pm
Yes that will be great for the justice to the relative of the victims , and the age of executable crime with capital punishment should be downwards to 14 years. I am from Bangladesh and I have a son of the same age of the victims.
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 03:14pm
Appreciated!!
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 03:23pm
Capital punishment is not a solution to start with and making it public is surely not an accepted practice internationally. The lawmakers should make sure that the loopholes are covered so that such people are captured and tried and imprisoned for life.
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 03:24pm
Irrespective of how much I dislike PPP, this man is the only one who has said what any father would say. Couldn't agree more.
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 03:28pm
Now that Zainab's killer has been apprehended and as evidence has shown that he had also killed several other unfortunate girls in the same gruesome manner. His fate is sealed. In the midst of emotionally charged atmosphere, doesn't it make sense that a team of competent and expert psychologists and psychiatrists be constituted and allowed to thoroughly examine, evaluate and find out what made this person such a heartless and gruesome serial killer in our society? Findings of their study be made of record to teach and train relevant personnel to prevent such happenings in future.
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 03:37pm
We need a bill for child abuse at home, schools and madrassa. There is no benefit of beating and getting angry at kids. It only create physiological problems.
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 03:37pm
@Haroon Rashid Khan what loop holes you are talking about, can you narrate? Public hanging is not acceptable internationally, why worry about the world? Public execution is desirable in order others to think 100 times before they commit such crimes.
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 03:40pm
Seconded!!
I'm assuming they've forwarded the age of 14 'coz that's considered the age of puberty.
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 03:48pm
Please pass this bill immediately and make it as part of the constitution. 14 years of age is right since the child is not matured. From 15, he is a teenage and from 18, he is an adult that can raise his voice
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 03:51pm
Public hanging, will make the public more insensitive, more prone to violence, more brutal and macabre, Pakistan has had enough of the Zia era, we do not want a repeat of his public beatings, our society has become brutalized, and we are reaping the rewards of Zia's 11 years of brutalizing society, with public displays. The way to improve is to study the culture, values, education, society of how people live work and play in societies with less violence, like Norway, or any Scandinavian country.
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 03:58pm
Until full police reforms are done, the problem won't be solved. If an effective police was in place and assaulters are immediately caught and quickly given a due process, the existing punishment is enough for deterrence.
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 03:58pm
by publicly, do they mean for the average man to watch? I don't agree with the word publicly. But the death penalty for those with a DNA match is a forward step. We need to be careful as the justice system is not foolproof, the innocent could be wrongfully convicted. It should have a caveat of at least DNA match.
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 04:07pm
How many examples has PPP set of good governance, anti-corruption and abiding by the laws and rules of the land??
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 04:09pm
Agree
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 04:09pm
Only the less civilised nations have hanging as a punishment. Yes it was a horrible crime, shows unspeakable depravity. But a state to act in an immoral way is not the sign of maturity.
There is no evidence in the world to suggest that hanging curbs such heinous crimes. After investigation and the legal process if found guilty, a life behind bars is the right punishment and in such cases life means life.
We all know that investigation, police competence and the quality of justice in our country are of very iffy . And mistakes happen in the most rigorous human processes. The mistakes in any of these processes can and do occur. You can not revive a man who has been hanged. An injustice which is as reprehensible as the crime.
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 04:29pm
Well, I'm not in favour of capital punishment, instead, the guilty ones should be put in jails for life to rot, where they are made to work which may benefit the economy. Even if they want to give capital punishment, then why to enforce an age limit? A rape is a rape, whether it is performed on a child or on an adult. A rape cannot be categorized.
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 04:45pm
The whole Pakistan should support this amendment to bring an end to such barbaric acts from now onwards. No parents should lose their pieces of hearts due to lust of heartless and senseless crimnals.
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 04:47pm
@Izhar Please don't give such baseless facts. No idea where you get these statistics from
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 04:50pm
The whole nation should support this amendment in order to bring an end to such henious crimes.
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 04:58pm
should be....must be
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 05:02pm
Every move is back to the medieval days. Tough laws will always be misused. Prevention is better than cure. Sex education, proper sex ratios, opportunities for opposite sexes to interact and even to blind eye towards brothels are what modern societies do.
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 05:10pm
@Shahid Would you have the same views should the poor victim be closely related to you?
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 05:14pm
Very good initiative. Strongly recommend.
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 05:31pm
@Reader You are 100% correct in saying that today's Pakistan is much different from that it used to be in the 70's. It has gone through from being a tolerant civil society to a totally intolerant one. When one looks around the events unfolding in our school and colleges, where over a simple reprimand the teachers are shot dead, clearly showing that the psyche of the nation's youth, who have been exposed to perpetual violence, be it terrorism activities or otherwise, has become a worrisome phenomenon to deal with. One should not be surprised to read stories of similar happenings in other parts of the country during the time, everyone was in grief for rape and murder of little Zainab. For that matter, any more of the same dose, through such display, is not going to pacify and contain the issue in hand. The need of the day is to run mass awareness program, especially in low income group areas, to single out paedophiles living among them, apprehending before they do commit similar crimes.
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 06:10pm
Absolutely a must! The age should be18.
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 06:16pm
@Amjad Durrani Engineer USA - well stated and I fully endorse your views.
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 06:19pm
Children who get sexually abised develop psycological problems and become abusers themselves at later stage.
I bet zainab's killer must have been victim of sexual abuse as a child.
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 06:24pm
Absolutely....this is the only way to deter these predators
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 06:27pm
@erum - what is your point, Doctor ?. Feel sympathy and let him go.
Please keep your useless opinion to your self. Thanks
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 07:29pm
Wrong. Public hanging should be for anyone who sexually assaults.
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 07:35pm
By specifying the age of the victim it is implied that above that age the crime of rape becomes less serious, therefore the rapist has less to fear of the possible punishment. I believe the punishment for rape should be the same irrespective of the age of the victim.
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 07:53pm
Death penalty is not the solution.
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 08:12pm
We need good education system specially at primary level where kids learn how to be good and responsible citizen.
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 08:13pm
It is appreciatable bill amendment and Senate should pass it and should immediately act upon it, otherwise, I think we cannot stop like these said crimes that going in our country, although I would like to say that public hanging is not perfect and a correct way to it, but along with our all media including even social media take part due to its solution by organised talk shows, seminars, symposium and debates for giving our public awareness about it that how can we save and avoid from doing like these bad and wrong acts and what are the correct ways to solve these social ethicaly problems and to divert them from wrong path to correct path.
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 08:25pm
Say the senator whom when in government bench signed a ban on death sentence. This is nothing but scoring some politics point. PPP and all cronies at best.
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 08:25pm
@Shahid
Convicted and found guilty without trial?
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 08:31pm
Its distressing to see that for so many who commented here, justice means revenge.
Justice means determining guilt by a fair trial and a fair punishment, which is not unnecessarily and unusually cruel.
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 08:34pm
Not so fast senator. He needs a complete forensic psychiatry evaluation. Competency to stand trial can be an issue. This has to be resolved before you dispose him. This is what I do in USA where I work in a forensic hospital and people with mental illness who have committed heinous crimes are evaluated and treated so that they become competent. If they cannot be restored to competency then we don't go for trial and are kept in a hospital.
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 08:44pm
This is not right - it will not solve anything and will make the country appear to be living in the middle ages. The things that need to be done are 1) No body including parents should be allowed to pardon the culprits, 2) an oversight should be created on the police so it doesn't get complacent about these cases and, 3) There should be open discussion and education in schools about the impropriety of these behaviors so the kids know it is not their fault and they can learn about their options first hand and the schools and mosques should create committees that the kids can go to without any fear of persecution and tell their tale; these committees should keep these things confidential until investigated. The committees should have oversight and a hierarchical structure going all the way up to the state government level.
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 08:45pm
All this talk of swift justice and making an example of the culprit is good however there has to be psychiatric tests before any punishment is handed out. It is important to get as much information as possible from the accused. This will shed light on the reasons why someone could become this way and prey on helpless souls.
Something is fundamentally wrong in society. So many child abuse cases cannot be shoved under the carpet just because the person was made an example of. We should be asking bigger questions as a society. How does a person become a serial rapist of children.
His mother said in one interview that her son made a mistake. What has he experienced in his own life that led him to this insanity. Surely the people around him must know something.
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 08:53pm
1. Every criminal once caught is publically humiliated. Has that reduced the probability of crimes by others.
2. My biggest concern is, that the hanging video will circulate on social media and will be seen by young kids intentionally or unintentionally. These kids are already watching & hearing horrific images & news of violence happening in Pakistan by terrorists & criminals. Has anyone ever studied the impact of this on young minds?
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 09:20pm
@Rajesh Of course. Yes, I would, and why not? Such is a societal curse, much bigger than any one Individual.
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 09:31pm
@Observer He has been apprehended on the basis of proclaimed pieces of evidence. He will be passed through and subjected to the due process. A part of which is what I have proposed in my post, above, so that every angle of there unimaginable tragedies can be logically probed, analysed and understood for making life of society safer by taking appropriate measures.
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 09:45pm
It should have been implemented very before but better late than never
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 10:02pm
It should be done publicly as it will deter the crime. Many of the senate members who re back door politicians and may be partially responsible for the current culture. The feudal, bureaucrats, people of power had been committing crimes like these specially in rural areas. Their opinion has no value and they are the biggest reason of the flourishing criminal behavior in all walks of life.
People like Rabbani we don not know what they are representing. These people are at the height of incompetence and majority of people of Pakistan want them to be removed and barred from holding any public office.
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 10:47pm
@Haroon Rashid Khan lock em up and throw away the key. Death Penalty is not the solution. Let them reprent in solatory confinement
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 10:50pm
@Truth well said
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 10:51pm
@Amjad Durrani Engineer USA agree with you
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 11:16pm
Public elected you guys to your positions in the senate so, you better listen to them. Our nation has been under too much pressure by these incidents, Give the what they are asking. You guys may not be elected again.
Pakistan is changing and old business may not work in future.
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 11:29pm
Fix the root cause of these crimes and make police/due process effective first.
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 11:37pm
We must be careful at this time of high emotions not to introduce jungle laws. The criminal needs to be punished but within the law
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2018 11:55pm
Public hanging is not the solution, rule of law is.
Recommend
0
Jan 25, 2018 12:03am
why is he still alive? there is no Law when one animal mind person wants to rape and kill an innocent. when time for Justice. we need to follow law.
Recommend
0
Jan 25, 2018 12:10am
I am a believer of swift justice but to hang someone is overkill. Chief Minister of Punjab is only playing his political game. Give a death sentence without any chance of parole (30 years).
Recommend
0
Jan 25, 2018 12:22am
@Izhar : Public hanging is itself a primitive barbaric practice. It will further brutalise society. Punishment should never be seen as revenge. Better to lock them up in solitary confinement or hard labour for life.
Recommend
0
Jan 25, 2018 12:39am
totally don't make sense to have public hanging. Pakistan is already living near stone age. don't push it back.
anyone who think public will deter such offenders, is a fool. did anyone realise such people who have been rapping and killing so innocent and beautiful children, will be deterred by public hanging...
the only thing it will do that Pakistan will furtger build tolerance to violence which is already look like wild wild west.
Recommend
0
Jan 25, 2018 01:02am
There must be death penalty for all cases.
Recommend
0
Jan 25, 2018 02:11am
No to capital punishment.
Recommend
0
Jan 25, 2018 02:13am
The important message to send is that the probability of capture and conviction is high. The punishment itself is secondary.
If crimnals believe, as most do right now, that only one in a million will be caught and convicted, there is not much deterrance.
Recommend
0
Jan 25, 2018 02:19am
His demands are right but Hanging some one publicly is not a solution to the problem. First the government need to taught police that they are the public servant and should not fire bullets on peoples demonstrating for their rights. What shabaz did today rises question.
Recommend
0
Jan 25, 2018 02:47am
Public hanging is not the answer. But making an example is.
Recommend
0
Jan 25, 2018 02:55am
First of all hanging someone in the middle of the square is not going to do anymore deterrence as we have done in the past.
Second: the core of the tragedy is much bigger than a sick animal that committed the crime and those must be addressed.
Third: if we are bent upon that solution then why not members of this parliament and government that can’t protect the people while plundering nation’s resources on personal gain rather than doing their job?
Recommend
0
Jan 25, 2018 03:34am
@Izhar Dude, people who commit these crimes have something wrong their DNA. In other words, they are genetically predisposed to liking kids. Public hanging will not deter these crimes as criminals will find more sophisticated way to hide their crimes. I for one do not want my kids to see dead bodies hanging from the poles and trees. This is just too gruesome. We need to try and become a civilized nation, not more babaric
Recommend
0
Jan 25, 2018 05:27am
It is an unwise move and should not be implemented. This amendment/suggestion will not add any value to the punishment instead it will just sensationalize death and down the road you will find people insensitive to death. You definitely do not want to create a society with people's minds numb to the concept of the death and think killing someone is no big deal. It will send a wrong message.
Recommend
0
Jan 25, 2018 06:14am
Why this punishment is age dependent to begin with?
Recommend
0
Jan 25, 2018 06:52am
@Haroon Rashid Khan good intelligent comment Haroon.
Recommend
0
Jan 25, 2018 06:55am
It is unfortunate what happened to Zainab but it will be more unfortunate for society if we go public hanging.
Recommend
0
Jan 25, 2018 07:19am
The solution to end this kind of crime is not public hanging. The solution is depoliticizing and removal of patwari culture from police.
Recommend
0
