ISLAMABAD: (APP) The Joint Sitting of the Parliament on Thursday unanimously passed the Criminal Law (Amendment) (Offences Relating to Rape) Bill, 2016 aimed at addressing lacunas in the existing laws to improve conviction rates besides bringing the culprits within the ambit of the law.
Farhatullah Babar of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had moved the bill further to amend the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 and the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 and the Qanun-e-Shahadat Order, 1984 [The Criminal Law (Amendment) (Offences Relating to Rape) Bill, 2016] as reported by the Committee of Joint Sitting on Bills.
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.
Speaking on the occasion, Farhatullah Babar said the bill was originally moved by former senator Sughra Imam. He said earlier there was only two per cent conviction in rape related cases.
He said under the proposed law, the DNA test has been made mandatory in the rape cases. He said now character of victims would be discussed. The media could not publicize the case and punishment has been enhanced for rape in police stations, he said. He complimented Sughra Imam and PML-N lawmaker Shaista Pervaiz for their support.