ISLAMABAD(National Times)- The Senate Standing Committee on Interior on Monday passed a series of key criminal law amendments, including a bill proposing the death penalty for acid attacks, as it moved to strengthen protections for vulnerable groups and public safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chaired by Senator Faisal Saleem Rehman, the committee considered private members\u2019 bills relating to acid crimes, protection of domestic workers, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) safety, anti-rape legislation and consumer protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The bills were passed despite opposition from State Minister for Interior Tallal Chaudhry, with PPP lawmakers also voting in favour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill moved by Senator Muhammad Abdul Qadir, seeking to amend Section 336B of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) relating to hurt caused by corrosive substances, was passed in the absence of the mover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Citing \u201cthe recent incident of acid attack on a lady doctor in Quetta\u201d, the bill states that despite the 2011 amendment, acid attacks continue to cause lifelong disfigurement and trauma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It proposes the punishment of \u201cdeath or imprisonment for life or imprisonment of not less than 14 years and a fine of Rs2 million\u201d to serve as a strong deterrent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The committee also unanimously passed the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill moved by Senator Sarmad Ali, proposing to criminalise the abuse of domestic workers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Statement of Objects and Reasons notes that \u201cdomestic workers constitute one of the most vulnerable segments of society, often subjected to physical violence, sexual abuse, forced labour, and other forms of mistreatment by employers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It adds that \u201cexisting provisions\u2026 do not specifically address the abuse arising from dependency and control inherent in domestic work settings\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The proposed section covers physical violence, sexual harassment, threats, forced labour, wage theft, confiscation of identity documents, denial of food or medical care, and humiliating treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The proposed penalties are \u201cimprisonment for a term which may extend to 10 years and fine which may extend to Rs100,000\u201d and \u201cimprisonment for life and fine which may extend to Rs500,000\u201d if the offence causes serious injury or death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The bill also makes employers liable if abuse is committed by household members, \u201cunless the employer took reasonable steps to prevent such abuse\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Schedule II of the Criminal Procedure Code has also been amended to make the offence non-bailable and triable by a court of session.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a move to address public safety hazards, the committee passed the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Act, moved by Senator Shahadat Awan, to amend Sections 286 and 286A of the PPC to criminalise the unauthorised transfer of LPG into smaller cylinders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Noting that such decanting in residential areas and roadside setups poses severe risks, the bill increases the punishment under Section 286 from six months to two years and the fine from Rs1,000 to Rs100,000. Under Section 286A, imprisonment is increased from two to five years and the fine from Rs10,000 to Rs500,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Statement of Objects and Reasons notes that \u201cthe decanting of LPG from larger cylinders into smaller domestic cylinders without proper safety measures has become a widespread practice in many parts of Pakistan.\u201d It adds that \u201cthese unauthorised decanting operations are often conducted in residential areas, workshops, or roadside setups without adherence to safety standards, posing severe risks to public life and property.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The bill proposes raising the punishment under Section 286 from six months to two years and the fine from Rs1,000 to Rs100,000. Under Section 286A, it proposes increasing the term of imprisonment from two to five years and the fine from Rs10,000 to Rs500,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe proposed amendments aim to deter negligent and reckless conduct in the handling of explosive and hazardous substances, ensuring greater public safety and accountability.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The committee also unanimously passed the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, moved by Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri, proposing to insert a new Section 338CA to make \u201cWrongful Detention of Dead Body\u201d a punishable offence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Statement of Objects and Reasons highlights that \u201cthere have been numerous reports of private hospitals and clinics detaining the dead bodies of patients until their families settle outstanding medical bills\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It cites examples of hospitals that \u201cdemand exorbitant advance deposits, sometimes as high as Rs2m to Rs4m\u201d and \u201cwithhold dead bodies even when outstanding dues are as low as Rs100,000.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The statement argues that this \u201cnot only causes immense psychological harm to grieving families but also denies the deceased the right to timely burial and dignified last rites, which is a fundamental religious obligation in Islam and other religions.\u201d It adds that \u201cthe inviolability of human dignity does not cease upon death.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The new section proposes a punishment of up to two years\u2019 imprisonment and\/or a fine of Rs500,000 for a first offence, and up to three years\u2019 imprisonment and\/or a fine of Rs1m for a second offence or detention beyond 24 hours. Exceptions are provided for autopsies or police investigations. The offence has been made compoundable by the legal heirs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trial) (Amendment) Bill, moved by Bushra Anjum Butt, was also passed, with the committee observing that legislation aimed at strengthening the legal framework against rape should receive appropriate government support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the consumer side, the committee passed the Islamabad Consumers Protection (Amendment) Bill, also moved by Senator Zehri, to bring private healthcare under the 1995 Act. The bill targets undisclosed fees, non-itemised billing and demands for advance deposits before emergency treatment, and requires hospitals to publicly display fee schedules and provide itemised bills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The committee expressed serious concern over reports that former parliamentarians were being required to obtain a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Ministry of Interior for the issuance of official passports and that their validity had been reduced from five years to one year. The minister of state for interior said only the internal approval procedure had been changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The chairman directed that existing law must not be violated and that official passports be issued with five-year validity in accordance with the law. Further deliberation was deferred.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Ministry of Interior also briefed the committee on concerns regarding the unregulated use of social media by minors, stating that a high-powered committee was working on proposals to regulate its use by children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Last week, a 35-year-old woman suffered burns when a man threw acid on her in Karachi\u2019s Upper Gizri area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Earlier in June, 29-year-old Mahnoor Nasir was seriously injured at the Quetta Civil Hospital when another employee threw acid on her. The attacker, later identified by police as Humayun Shah, was said to have been kil\u00adled in an encounter after law enforcers tra\u00adced him as he attempted to flee on a bus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meanwhile, Dr Nasir was shifted to Karachi after receiving initial treatment in Quetta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In August, in a landmark judgement, the Supreme Court declared acid attacks more heinous than homicide, describing them as crimes that condemn victims to a \u201cliving death\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD(National Times)- The Senate Standing Committee on Interior on Monday passed a series of key criminal law amendments, including a bill proposing the death penalty for acid attacks, as it moved to strengthen protections for vulnerable groups and public safety. Chaired by Senator Faisal Saleem Rehman, the committee considered private members\u2019 bills relating to acid […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":132669,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-132668","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest_news","entry"],"yoast_head":"\n