Senate panel backs death penalty for acid attacks

The Senate Standing Committee on Interior approved a series of criminal law amendments on Monday, including a proposal to impose the death penalty for acid attacks. The committee, chaired by Senator Faisal Saleem Rehman, considered several private member bills addressing acid crimes, domestic workers, LPG safety, anti-rape legislation, and consumer protection.

The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, moved by Senator Muhammad Abdul Qadir, was passed in the absence of its mover. It seeks to amend Section 336B of the Pakistan Penal Code, criminalizing acid attacks with penalties of death, life imprisonment, or a minimum of 14 years, and a fine of Rs2 million. The committee also unanimously passed the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, proposed by Senator Sarmad Ali, to criminalize the abuse of domestic workers.

The bill imposes up to 10 years imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs100,000 for offenses like physical violence, sexual harassment, and wage theft. Additionally, it makes employers liable for abuse committed by their household members. Another bill, moved by Senator Shahadat Awan, aims to criminalize the unauthorized transfer of LPG into smaller cylinders, increasing penalties under existing sections.

A separate bill, proposed by Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri, seeks to make the wrongful detention of dead bodies punishable, with penalties of up to two years imprisonment, a fine of Rs500,000, and exceptions for autopsies and police investigations. The Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trial) (Amendment) Bill, moved by Senator Bushra Anjum Butt, was also approved.

Lastly, the Islamabad Consumers Protection (Amendment) Bill, moved by Senator Zehri, targets undisclosed fees, non-itemised billing, and advance deposits before emergency treatment in private healthcare.