ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen M. Mazari and Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry on Friday condemned the resolution passed by the National Assembly calling for death penalty and public hanging of child rapists.
The resolution was moved by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan on Friday. It strongly condemned the “brutal killing of 8-year-old Iwaz Noor in Nowshera”.
Fawad Chaudhry tweeted, “Strongly condemn this resolution this is just another grave act in line with brutal civilisation practices, societies act in a balanced way barbarism is not answer to crimes…… this is another expression of extremism.”
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Shireen Mazari termed it “an individual act”. “The resolution passed in NA today on public hangings was across party lines and not a govt-sponsored resolution,” she said adding that her ministry of human rights opposed it.
“Unfortunately, I was in a meeting and wasn’t able to go to the NA,” she stated in a tweet relaying about her absence from the House proceeding.
Former Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Irum Azeem Farooque asked her if her ministry had moved any legislation so far about rape issues.
“Trying to please the west by condemning this resolution proves you have no interest to give capital punishment to those who have raped a child and its future. Shame on you,” she said.
Upon which, Shireen schooled the Karachi-based leader saying that Zainab Alert bill had death penalty but the human rights committee of National Assembly chaired by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari changed it to life with all members supporting it. “Now bill is stuck in Senate Committee on HR. Laws against rape already exist in PPC,” she said asking if Pakistan’s signed 6 HR international conventions was tantamount to pleasing the west.
“See Section 376 PPC for rape punishment. People really need to check the existing laws before commenting. Issue is of implementation and speedy justice which is our focus now,” she said further.
Addressing the NA, Ali Muhammad Khan said a number of steps had been taken for the protection of our children from different abuses.
“For this purpose, a child protection center has also been established in the Federal Capital, besides enactment of laws such as Zainab Alert, Response and Recovery Act,” he said.
He said those involved in cases of child abuse should be given exemplary punishment.
