Child abusers: CII says courts can award public punishments on nature of crime

Body conveyed message in written reply to Senate committee’s proposal

ISLAMABAD: The Council of Islamic Ideology on Thursday said the government and courts can give public punishments on the nature of the crime and criminals.

In a written reply to a Senate committee’s proposal, the CII said there was no need for an amendment in the Section 364A of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). The proposal seeks public hanging for those involved in kidnapping and abduction of children below the age of 14.



The CCI explained that under the existing jail manuals and 1992 Act of special courts for speedy trial, there is a provision for public hanging. The CII while referring to Rule 364 of the Prison Rules 1978 and Section 10 of Special Court for Speedy Trial Act 1992 concluded that in the presence of these laws and rules, the court and the government can go for public hanging of a convict.

"Therefore, if the government and court want to give any one public punishment, they can while keeping in view the severity of the crime," the CCI noted.

Moreover, the CCI recommended that there was a dire need for judicial reforms in the country. Such reforms, it pointed out, will help provide speedy justice to the victim families and may pave the way for reduction in crimes.

Last month the Senate Secretariat referred the bill to the CII for its view on public execution. The move came after the Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice discussed a proposed amendment to the section of 364-A of the PPC.



The amendment in the bill ‘Criminal Law Amendment Act 2017’ was felt after people from all walks of life demanded that the government publicly hang the killer of 7-year-old Zainab who was brutally murdered after being raped in Kasur. The incident shook the entire nation and people were of the view that such punishments would discourage people for committing such heinous crime in the future.

Meanwhile after thorough review of the bill the CII during a press conference held on February 8, advised against the introduction of an amendment seeking public hanging for child kidnappers.

During the presser the Chairman CII Dr Qibla Ayaz could not gave a clear stance whether public hanging of such culprits was allowed in Islam or not . However, he emphasised for speedy justice and ensuring punishing culprits involved in such heinous crime in order to build trust and confidence of judiciary among the victims’ family.