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During a meeting of the Senate Committee on Interior led by Senator Faisal Salim, a proposed amendment to intensify penalties for rape offenses was introduced.
Senator Mohsin Aziz put forth the bill, highlighting the necessity for tougher punishments in these cases.
“The current punishment for rape is excessively lenient; we must impose severe penalties,” asserted Senator Aziz, advocating for life sentences for those found guilty of rape.
Senator Samina Zehri also expressed her support for reform, calling attention to the need to update outdated legislation.
“We are still operating under laws that are 50 years old, which need revision,” she remarked.
Senator Aziz additionally suggested a minimum sentence of 25 years for rape offenses, emphasizing the committee’s commitment to enacting stricter measures to effectively tackle such crimes.
A civil society organisation says that in 2023 Punjab recorded rise in violence against women cases, with Lahore and Faisalabad being the most affected districts.
Sustainable Social Development Organization released the report on the occasion of International Women’s Day. Up to 10,201 cases of violence against women were registered under sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the PPC. This was a 14.5% increase from the 8,787 cases reported in 2022.
