Pakistan passes strict anti-rape ordinance
New Delhi : The President of Pakistan Dr. Arif Alvi on Tuesday approved the Anti-Rape Ordinance 2020. Under which a system will be set up across the country for hearing and investigation of such cases. The court will have to conduct a speedy trial in the rape case. There is also a provision to make the rapist impotent as a punishment. A public statement by the President’s House said that special courts would be set up across the country as per the ordinance, so that the case of the rape victim could be heard expeditiously. The court will have to complete the hearing in four months.
Anger across the country over women being gang-raped in front of children
The ordinance comes months after the motorway gang-rape incident. In September, some people gang-raped a foreign woman who was going with children when her car broke down on the highway. The incident sparked outrage across Pakistan. This put pressure on the government to bring in stricter laws on rape cases.
Prime Minister Imran Khan announced in November that the government would bring in an anti-rape ordinance after a woman and her minor daughter were raped in Sindh’s Kashmore district.
Key points of the Ordinance –
– An anti-rape crisis cell will be set up under the ordinance. It will be responsible for conducting a medical examination of the victim within six hours of the incident.
– A nationwide list of sexual offenses will be compiled through the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).
– The identity of the rape victim cannot be disclosed under the ordinance. Violators will be prosecuted.
– Police and government officials found guilty of negligence in the investigation of the case will be sentenced to three years in prison with a fine.
– There is also a provision to punish police and government officials for giving false information.
– Persistent sex offenders will be made impotent with the help of chemicals on the advice of the notified board.
– This work will be done with the help from NGOs, the general public as well as local, national and international agencies.
