KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly has unanimously passed a resolution which calls for making DNA tests mandatory in rape cases. The resolution was tabled by PPP MPA Sharmila Farooqi.

As per the resolution, DNA tests should be mandatory in all rape cases, the costs of which should be supported by the Sindh government.

The resolution comes in the wake of controversial recomendation by the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) last month which had attracted a great deal of criticism from women rights organisations.

The CII had recommended that DNA should not be included as a primary evidence with regard to rape cases.

They held the view that Islam has set procedures to determine cases of rape and said Islamic procedure should be adopted during investigation.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) had called the CII declaration “regressive, unfortunate and unkind to rape victims.”

The HRCP also called on the new government for an urgent reconstitution of the CII.

A number a civil society groups have called for the CII to be abolished in the ‘larger interest of a progressive and tolerant society’.