Pakistani cabinet approved anti rap laws strict punishments, The growing rape incidents in the country, the federal cabinet on Tuesday approved in principle two anti-rape ordinances that “change the definition of rape” and are aimed at awarding strict and horrible punishment to rapists, including chemical castration and hanging, but not in public.
A meeting of the cabinet which is lead by Prime Minister Imran Khan also endorsed a recent decision of the Economic Coor¬dination Committee concerning restructuring and retrenchment in Pakistan International Airlines.
The central cabinet also debated over the Rs1 trillion Karachi Transfor¬mation Strategy and the prime minister alleged that the plan, aimed at addressing basic civic issues of the metropolis, was not continuing at the pace he desired.
The government termed the approval of the Anti-Rape (Inves¬tigation and Trial) Ordinance 2020 and Pakistan Penal Code (Amendment) Ordinance 2020 a “big decision” and said it was for the first time in the history of Pakistan that the definition of rape had been changed by incorporating “transgender” and “gang-rape” in it. The recommended law also disallows the controversial “two-finger” test by doctors that consist of testing for laxity of vaginal muscles with fingers.
Recommended laws change the definition of rape, allow chemical castration, hanging of convicts
“Finally The federal central cabinet has approved anti-rape ordinances which change the basic meaning of rape and propose severe punishment for gang rape and hanging of rapists,” said (IM) Information Minister Shibli Faraz in a post-cabinet summit press conference.
He said the ordinances may be finalized in a week or within two weeks.
Dr. Shireen Mazari minister of Human Rights writes in the tweet: “Cabinet Committee on Disposal of Legislative Cases (CCLC) will now finalize (the ordinances) and it should become operational in next few days. It creates a new definition of rape, the establishment of the special court, anti-rape crisis cell, protection of victims and witnesses, and prohibition of the two-finger test,” she said.
Mr. Faraz confirmed Prime Minister Khan, after taking big serious notice of a recent rape incident of a mother and her daughter in Sindh and many more rape cases which are arises in Sindh, had asked Law Minister Farogh Naseem to prepare comprehensive ordinances encompassing fast-track trial of the accused, comprehensive definition of rape, the inclusion of new offenses and strict punishments for convicted rapists.
The meeting minister said as the ordinances were of great importance and complicated disciplinary actions against therapists; it was forwarded to the law division for further improvement.
He conveyed the hope that the initiative would significantly reduce the number of rape incidents in the country by creating restrictions against the offense in society.