Senate panel approves bill proposing death penalty over acid attack

A Senate committee has approved a proposal seeking the death penalty for acid attacks.

The Senate Standing Committee on Interior also approved legislation aimed at protecting domestic workers from abuse. The proposed amendment to Section 336B of the Pakistan Penal Code was introduced by Senator Muhammad Abdul Qadir and was passed even though he was not present at the meeting.

The bill calls for death, life imprisonment or at least 14 years in prison for people convicted of causing hurt with corrosive substances. It also proposes a fine of up to Rs2 million.

The proposal points to the continuing impact of acid attacks, saying victims can suffer permanent physical disfigurement and psychological trauma despite changes made to the law in 2011. It also refers to a recent acid attack on a woman doctor in Quetta.

Another bill approved by the committee seeks to specifically criminalise the abuse of domestic workers.

Moved by Senator Sarmad Ali, the legislation was passed unanimously. It covers a wide range of alleged abuses, including physical violence, sexual harassment, forced labour, threats, withholding wages, taking away identity documents and denying workers food or medical treatment.

The bill also seeks to penalise humiliating or degrading treatment of domestic workers.

Under the proposed law, abuse could result in a prison sentence of up to 10 years and a fine of up to Rs100,000. If the abuse causes serious injury or death, the proposed punishment would increase to life imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs500,000.

Employers could also be held responsible when a member of their household abuses a domestic worker, unless they can show that they took reasonable measures to prevent it.

The legislation argues that domestic workers are particularly vulnerable because of the dependence and control involved in household employment.