Pakistan passed a new rape law this week following recent protests over Lahore police chief Umer Sheikh’s saying the brutal rape of a woman in front of her children in September was the woman’s fault.
On the night of 9 September, two men dragged the woman and her children out of their car on a highway near Lahore, raped the woman and robbed her. Family members reported that police railed to respond to calls. Lahore’s police chief said the victim, a French resident, was to blame for mistaking Pakistani society for being as safe as that of France, stating that no one in Pakistan would ‘allow their sisters and daughters to travel alone so late’. Protests erupted in response to the statement.
Pakistan ranks sixth on the list of the world’s most dangerous countries for women, with more than 51 241 cases of violence against women reported between January 2011 and June 2017 and the accused in only 2.5% of all reported cases ending up being convicted by the courts. Rights groups say that the number of women opting to learn self-defence is on the rise, with sales of tasers and pepper spray increasing.
Pakistan’s President Arif Alvi said on Twitter that special courts ‘will be set up across the country to expedite trials and cases of rape suspects as soon as possible’. The legislation passed this week provides for anti-rape units to conduct medical examinations within six hours of a complaint being filed and forbids disclosure of victims’ identities. There are also provisions for the creation of a national sex offenders’ registry.
While the text of the new legislation has not been released, Pakistan’s justice minister has said that the death penalty and chemical castration would be included.
For those convicted in the most brutal cases, and for repeat offenders, Prime Minister Imran Khan has proposed chemical castration, conceding that public hanging would not be internationally acceptable and could lead to the Generalised Scheme of Preferences – granted to Pakistan by the EU in 2013 and providing tariff reduction on various products – being revoked.
The new law still requires ratification by parliament within four months but goes into effect immediately.
[Picture: QASIM REHMANI from Pixabay]