ISLAMABAD: A Senate committee on Wednesday approved the Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trail) Bill, 2021 stipulating the formation of special courts to hear rape cases.
The bill was approved by the Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice. The body has Syed Ali Zafar as its chairperson, Azam Nazeer Tarar, Mian Raza Rabbani, Azam Khan Swati, Musadik Malik, Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, Syed Shibli Faraz and others.
During the sub-committee meeting chaired by Barrister Ali Zafar, the opposition members expressed reservation on a provision allowing the constitution of special courts, however, the proposal was rejected by a majority vote.
The bill will now be tabled in the Senate for approval. The National Assembly had on June 10 passed the bill, which was later referred to the Senate for approval.
Earlier, during the meeting, member National Assembly Malika Bukhari — who also attended the session — informed the panel about a proposal in the bill for the establishment of special courts to hear rape cases. The panel was also informed that courts will have serving judges instead of retired judges.
Opposing the suggestion, PPP’s Raza Rabbani said he didn’t believe that constitution of special courts was required for hearing rape cases. “We are not against the rules, but oppose the formation of special courts,” he added. Azam Nazeer Tarar of the PML-N said similar courts were also established in the past, but they didn’t serve any purpose.
Talking to the media after the meeting, Barrister Zafar said the sub-committee had approved the bill in which the condition of a virginity test had been abolished. He said a suspect, if proven guilty, could face the death sentence, life imprisonment or undergo chemical castration.
In December last year, President Dr Arif Alvi had approved the Anti-Rape Ordinance 2020 to ensure speedy trial of rape cases with women and children as victims and to allow chemical castration of those convicted of such offences.
