Panel clears bill to punish defiling of Jinnah’s portrait

The senators were unanimous on the bill, condemned destruction of statue of Jinnah in bomb attack in Balochistan

Senate Standing Committee on Interior unanimously passed The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill 2020 aimed at maintaining the prestige of the national flag and the portrait of the founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam on Thursday.          

The bill was moved by Senator Syed Muhammad Sabir Shah while the committee met under the chairmanship of Senator Mohsin Aziz. The bill stated, "Whoever deliberately defiles or puts on fire the portrait of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, removes it from any office or premises or other property of the government, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years but shall not be less than six months or with fine which shall not be less than Rs50,000 or with both."  

The senators were unanimous on the bill and also strongly condemned destruction of the statue of Jinnah in a bomb attack in Balochistan.        

Defiling of the national flag is already a criminal offence in the Pakistan Penal Code but enhancement in its punishment has been proposed in the bill in order to make it more detrimental.