What happened: The sex offenders convicted of multiple rapes can now face chemical castration after the parliament passed new legislation, Pakistan. While, this legislation aims to fasten the conviction rate and have harsher sentences for the accused.
Why it matters: Reports have suggested that the conviction rate of sex offenders and rapists in Pakistan is less than 4%. However, the bill was passed after a significant outcry from demanding public justice and stricter punishments for the rapists. The bill: The Criminal Law Amendment Bill 2021 states, “ Chemical castration is a process duly notified by rules framed by the prime minister, whereby a person is rendered incapable of performing sexual intercourse for any period of his life. ” Adding to this, “ As may be determined by the court through administration of drugs which shall be conducted through a notified medical board. ”
The opposition: However, the amended bill faced opposition from the Senator of Jamaar-i-Islami, Mushtaq Ahmed, and stated it was un-Islamic and stated that the bill is against Sharia. Also: A senior journalist, Sana Jamal, in a tweet expressed her views about the bill and wrote, “ The approval of the anti-rape bill is a historic victory for women..” Whereas, another Twitter user Khadijah Shah, tweeted, “The passing of the anti rape bill should be celebrated!”