Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice has rejected the proposal of Ministry of Law and Justice regarding public execution of convicted rapist and murderer of seven-year-old Zainab Amin of district Kasur. The Senate Standing Committee on Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs met here on Wednesday with Senator Javed Abbasi in the chair to consider the matter whether an amendment would be required in Pakistan Penal Code for provision of death penalty by hanging publicly in view of the rule 354 of the Prisons Rules 1978, along with a bill on the matter referred by Chairman Senate Mian Raza Rabbani.
The ministry also opposed the public hanging of Zainab's killer, saying that the idea is being opposed not only by human rights organizations, civil society, but also by the legal experts. The officials of the Law Ministry opposed the hanging of Zainab's killer in jail, while after hanging his dead body can be traveled across the city so that the people can know what happens with such criminals. The ministry further suggested that killer's body can also be stoned.
On February 17, the Anti-Terrorism Court found Imran Ali guilty of charges brought against him and handed him four counts of death penalty, one life term, a 7-year jail term and Rs 4.1 million in fine. While rejecting the idea of publicly hanging the killer as well as stoning his body publicly, the committee said that no body can be travelled across the city as bodies are also honoured as per Islamic laws.
The senators said that the Supreme Court of Pakistan had imposed restriction on public hanging. They said that the Supreme Court's decision cannot be violated by holding a public hanging. The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) had also opposed the public hanging, they added. The officials from Punjab said that the scenes of hanging should not be shown on the media as it would have negative impacts on children.
The inspector general Jail Punjab said the public hanging can create law and order situation, adding public hanging is also a violation of international laws. An official of the Law Ministry said that no action in violation of Constitution of Pakistan should be taken. The committee also discussed other agenda items including: the bill proposed by the committee, entitled 'Criminal Law Amendment Act 2018,' seeks to amend 'The Pakistan Penal Code Act 1860's Section 364-A (kidnapping or abducting a person under the age of 14),' so that the punishment for the crime is a public execution.
'The Criminal Laws (offences related to kidnapping or abducting a child) (Amendment) Bill 2018,' was introduced by Senator Abdul Rehman Malik on his behalf and on behalf of Senators Muhammad Javed Abbasi, Colonel Syed Tahir Hussain Mashhadi(retd), Sardar Fateh Muhammad Muhammad Hassani, Dr Jehanzeb Jamaldini and Shahi Syed. The consideration of 'The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2017 (Amendment of Article 255)' introduced by Senator Mohammad Azam Khan Swati, in the Senate sitting held on March 20, 2017. 'The Consideration of the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2016 (Substitution of Article 251),' which was introduced by Senator Sassui Palijo on her behalf and on behalf of Senator Mukhtiar Ahmed Dhamrah on December 19, 2016.