Tag: chemical castration

  • Chemical castration removed from criminal law amendment, announces PTI’s Maleeka Bokhari

    Chemical castration removed from criminal law amendment, announces PTI’s Maleeka Bokhari

    In a press conference on Friday, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) parliamentary secretary on law Maleeka Bokhari announced that the bill passed on the chemical castration of rapists has been revoked.

    “We have amended the criminal law and decided that the chemical castration clause will be taken out,” said Bokhari.

    She said the decision was taken after the Islamic Ideology Council, a state-run body that interprets laws from an Islamic perspective, found chemical castration un-Islamic.

    While talking about the Anti-Rape Bill 2021, Bokhari announced the abolishment of the “two-finger virginity test”. Moreover, according to her Pakistan’s rape conviction rate is less than 1- 2 per cent that’s why the government has introduced the setting up of Special Courts to avoid delays in the proceedings of rape cases.

    Furthermore, under the new bill, she announced that National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) would register sex offenders so the government would have a record of such people.

    “In an effort not to disclose the victim’s identity instead of open trial, video trials would take place under the new Anti-Rape Bill”, she added.

    The Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trail) Bill 2021 also includes:

    1- Creation of anti-rape crisis cells in public hospitals to ensure prompt registration of the FIR, medico-legal examination

    2- Use of modern devices during investigation and trial.

    3- The accused is barred from the cross-examination of a rape survivor.

    4- Evidence pertaining to the ‘immoral character’ of the victim is inadmissible in court.

    5- Setting up a public reporting mechanism.

  • Jamaat-i-Islami demands public hanging of rapists, terms castration ‘unIslamic, against Sharia’

    Jamaat-i-Islami demands public hanging of rapists, terms castration ‘unIslamic, against Sharia’

    One of the bills passed by the joint session of parliament on Wednesday included that of the “chemical castration” of rapists.

    According to the bill, “chemical castration is a process duly notified by rules framed by the prime minister, whereby a person is rendered incapable of performing sexual intercourse for any period of his life, as may be determined by the court through administration of drugs which shall be conducted through a notified medial board”.

    Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) Senator Mushtaq Ahmed protested over the bill and termed it unIslamic and against Sharia. He said a rapist should be hanged publicly, but there was no mention of castration in the Sharia, reports Dawn.

  • Standing committee approves chemical castration of sexual abusers

    National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Law and Justice has approved chemical castration, which falls in the Criminal Law bill.

    As per the Criminal Law Bill 2020, if the accused commits the crime again after serving a life sentence, he will be sentenced to chemical castration.

    Under this law, special court, anti-rape crises cell, and special committee would be set up to hear rape cases and registered complaints.

    Geo news reported that under the Criminal Amendment Bill 2021, a rapist who commits the crime again will be chemically castrated.

    In November 2020, the federal cabinet had approved a law that proposed chemical castration as a punishment for convicted rapists.

    Prime Minister Imran Khan had previously said the government will not tolerate any lax attitude in the implementation of anti-rape laws and added that the safety of all citizens was the utmost priority of the government.

    The premier said the legislation will be clear and transparent with strict enforcement. He said the rape survivors will be able to register complaints without fear, adding that the government will protect their identity.

    Regarding chemical castration, Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP) Nafisa Shah said it is inhuman under the law. The law for awarding death punishment and life imprisonment to rapists already exist, she added.

  • President okays anti-rape law for speedy trials, harsher sentences

    President okays anti-rape law for speedy trials, harsher sentences

    President Dr Arif Alvi on Tuesday approved Anti-Rape Ordinance 2020, under which special courts will be set up across the country to expedite trials of rape cases on a priority basis and award harsher sentences, such as chemical castration.

    The special courts will dispose of the rape cases within four months, as per the ordinance that also abolishes the ‘two fingers’ virginity test in the rape cases.

    The ordinance also suggests setting up of anti-rape crisis cells under the supervision of the prime minister, which will be authorised to conduct medico-legal examination within six hours of the incident.

    A record will be prepared at the national level with help of National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) to register the perpetrators of sexual abuse. The ordinance prohibits revealing of the identity of rape victims, making it a punishable offence.

    Police and government officials who show negligence in investigating the cases would be jailed for three years along with the imposition of fines. Additionally, police and government officials who provide false information would also be punished.

    On Nov 7, the Cabinet Committee for Disposal of Legislative Cases had approved two ordinances to introduce harsher punishments, including chemical castration, for sex offenders.

    According to a statement issued by the law ministry at the time, the Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trial) Ordinance, 2020 and the Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 would introduce the concept of chemical castration mainly as a “form of rehabilitation”.

    Responding to the new ordinances after their approval by the cabinet in November, PPP Senator Sherry Rehman had expressed her displeasure over lowering the statutory age for rape to 13 from 16.

    “The age of alleged ‘consent’ has been moved to 13 from 16 in the new ordinance, which is terrible,” commented the lawmaker. “How will an adolescent be responsible for ‘consent’. This makes younger children even more vulnerable.”