Proposed Bill: The Anti-Rape Laws (Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill 2014
Mover: Senator Syeda Sughra Imam (Pakistan People’s Party) (Member-in-Charge)
Status of discussion in Senate: Passed
Summary: In Pakistan, cases of rape are reported and registered but the actions taken against criminals are very ineffective. The Anti-Rape Laws (Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill aims to close the large gaps which exist in existing laws to improve conviction rates and bring the culprits and accused within the ambit of law. The Pakistan Penal and Criminal Codes, along with other already existing laws need to be strengthened so that the law in implemented both in theory and practice; the victims of rape are provided justice and that the criminals who are responsible for this offence are correctly convicted.
Proposed Bill: The Anti-Honour Killings Laws (Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill 2014
Mover: Senator Syeda Sughra Imam (Pakistan People’s Party)(Member-in-Charge)
Status of discussion in Senate: Passed
Summary: In Pakistan, people are killed every day in the name of ‘honour’. The Anti-Honour Killings Laws (Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill is proposed to further amend The Pakistan Penal Code (XLV of 1860), The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (V of 1898), in order to prevent honour killings in Pakistan, which claim the lives of many innocent victims every year. Statistics of women who have been victims of honour killings are easily available, whereas statistics of men killed in the name of honour are difficult to track, as cases of men are not registered nor recorded. The objective of this bill is to make sure honour killings are stopped immediately, by addressing the lack of attention and implementation of existing laws in an effective manner.
Proposed Bill: The Torture, Custodial Death and Custodial Rape (Prevention and Punishment) Bill 2014
Mover: Senator Farhatullah Babar (Pakistan People’s Party)
Proposed by: Senator Farooq Hamid Naek and Senator Dr. Abdul Qayoom Soomro (Members-in-Charge)
Status of discussion in Senate: Passed
Summary: The main objective of The Torture, Custodial Death and Custodial Rape (Prevention and Punishment) Bill is to protect Pakistani citizens and all other persons for the time being in Pakistan from all acts of torture, custodial death and custodial rape. Pakistan signed The United Nations Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhumane and Degrading Treatment and Punishment in 2008, and ratified the convention in 2010. The ratification of the convention means that the legislation is required to assign a proper definition and punishment for “torture”. Even though many provisions exist in the Pakistan Penal Code related to this issue, they do not define the word “torture” as clearly as in Article 1 of the Convention and they do not make it a criminal offence, similar to Article 4 of the convention. Therefore, it is necessary that the domestic laws of our country are brought in conformity with the Convention.
Proposed Bill: The Privatisation Commission (Amendment) Bill 2014
Mover: Senator Syeda Sughra Imam (Pakistan People’s Party)(Member-in-Charge)
Status of discussion in Senate: Passed
Summary: The Privatisation Commission (Amendment) Bill aims to further amend the Privatisation Commission Ordinance, 2000. The bill requires that the privatisation process in Pakistan be completely transparent, judicious and fair, and be conducted in a way which will protect Pakistan’s economic and strategic interests. Pakistan’s strategic assets and national security interests must also be safeguarded and secured during this process.
