Senate abolishes death penalty for sheltering offenders in women stripping cases

The Senate passed a bill by majority vote on Friday, abolishing the death penalty for individuals who provide shelter to a person involved in the public abduction and stripping of women.

Following amendments to the criminal law, authorities will now have the power to arrest individuals without a warrant if they are found involved in the assault, abduction, or public stripping of women.

The bill further states that such offences will now be considered non-bailable and non-compoundable. Those found guilty will face life imprisonment, confiscation of property, and additional fines.

Read: Youth strips naked in front of passing woman in Karachi's Surjani 

Opposition Leader Senator Ali Zafar opposed the bill, arguing that the death penalty should remain intact for such heinous crimes. 

PTI Senator Samina Mumtaz echoed this sentiment, stating that the bill weakens protections for women and seems aimed at appeasing international communities.

In response, Law Minister Senator Azam Nazir Tarar questioned the effectiveness of capital punishment in deterring crime. "We already have the death penalty for over 100 crimes, yet crime continues to rise. In Europe, there is no death penalty, yet crime is on the decline," he said.

Read: Punjab police strip, beat four women accused of stealing PML-N’s Uzma Kardar’s jewellery

He further stated that such cases are often fabricated over water disputes just to ensure the accused is sentenced to death. He added that, according to Sharia law, the death penalty is permissible only for four specific crimes.