Senate panel passes bill proposing death penalty for perpetrators of acid attacks

The Senate Standing Committee on Interior approved a series of criminal law amendments on Monday, including a bill proposing the death penalty for acid attacks, aimed at enhancing protections for vulnerable groups and ensuring public safety. The committee, chaired by Senator Faisal Saleem Rehman, deliberated on various private member's bills such as acid crimes, domestic worker protections, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) safety, anti-rape legislation, and consumer protection.

Despite opposition from State Minister for Interior Tallal Chaudhry, the bills, including the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill by Senator Muhammad Abdul Qadir, were passed without Qadir's presence. The bill, citing the recent acid attack on a female doctor in Quetta, seeks to impose death or life imprisonment for acid attacks, along with a fine of Rs2 million.

The committee unanimously supported the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill by Senator Sarmad Ali, which criminalizes the abuse of domestic workers, imposing penalties from 10 years' imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs100,000 for serious injuries or death. Additionally, the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Act, moved by Senator Shahadat Awan, was passed to criminalize unauthorized LPG cylinder transfers, raising penalties for the offense under Sections 286 and 286A of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

The Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill by Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri, which introduces a new Section 338CA to address wrongful detention of dead bodies, was also approved. This bill mandates a penalty of up to three years' imprisonment and/or a fine of Rs1 million for a second offense, with exceptions for autopsies or police investigations.

The committee also endorsed the Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trial) (Amendment) Bill by Bushra Anjum Butt and the Islamabad Consumers Protection (Amendment) Bill, both aimed at strengthening rape laws and consumer rights, respectively.