Senate shoots down public hanging bill

Presented by JI, piece of legislation sought public execution of rapists, sex offenders

ISLAMABAD:

The upper house of parliament has rejected a bill seeking public execution of sex offenders and rapists as a deterrent against such heinous crimes.

Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan of the JI introduced the bill during the Senate's farewell session, chaired by Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani on Monday.

Defending the bill, Senator Khan referred to a report stating that 1,122 cases of rape were reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) province alone in the last five years.

He stated that following these incidents, the police arrested 581 individuals, of whom 494 were acquitted and only 87 were convicted. He added that 341 of the suspects were booked for raping women, but only 23 were sentenced.

Senator Mushtaq mentioned that 152 people accused of raping children were acquitted, while courts sentenced only 64 of them. “According to one report, in the first six months of 2023, 12 children were targeted for sexual assault every month,” he said.

He proposed, "Let just four such public executions be held, and this crime will end. Don't be afraid of America and Europe; strict punishments are necessary to control crime."

Senator Kamil Ali Agha of the PML-Q supported the bill, citing the practice in America where authorities release videos of lethal injections being administered to convicts.

“In Saudi Arabia, public executions are carried out. If we are Muslims, our stance should be correct. What is happening in the world is not important; what Islam says is important."

Senator Humayun Mohmand of the PTI also voiced support for public hanging of rape convicts. "In countries where public executions are carried out, crime rates are low. Where hands are cut off, theft is also minimal," he said.

PPP’s Senator Sherry Rehman opposed the bill, stating that public hanging spreads barbarism.
She mentioned that the PPP had opposed the death penalty for rape and emphasized the need for improving policing rather than focusing solely on death penalty laws.

“Pakistan ranks fifth in the world in terms of the death penalty. Public hanging does not suit a society of the 21st century. Public hanging will not stop crime,” she said.

Senator Irfan Siddiqui of the PML-N also opposed the bill regarding public hanging, saying that hanging should be confined to the gallows. PML-N’s Senator Ishaq Dar said since the death penalty is already part of the law, they are against public hanging.

Interestingly, Barrister Ali Zafar, who also belongs to the PTI, opposed the bill.

“We support the current law which includes the death penalty. However, we oppose public hanging. Instead of public executions and hangings on the streets, efforts should be made to improve the justice system,” he said.

When Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani conducted a vote on the bill, 14 members voted in favor, while 24 members voted against it. Consequently, the chairman rejected the motion to present the bill for approval.

During the session, PTI members surrounded the chairman's dais, protesting vehemently against alleged election rigging. The protest ended after the chairman assured them of a detailed discussion on alleged election rigging today (Tuesday).