Pakistan Gambit Legal Move: Row Over Death Penalty Reform for Public Stripping of Women

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In a historic legislative breakthrough, Pakistan has enacted a bill to amend Section 354-A of its Penal Code abolishing the death penalty for public stripping of women. The life imprisonment and fine will now be the maximum punishment for this heinous crime, rather than execution.

Though the reform seeks to move Pakistan nearer to global human rights norms, especially towards the European Union’s Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+), the action has triggered heated debate on political, legal, and social platforms.

The Drive Towards Reform: Conformity With Global Human Rights Standards

The amendment, initiated by the Ministry of Interior-led government, has a definite intention to align national law with international responsibilities. Pakistan, under GSP+, will have to prove adherence to various conventions of human rights, such as limitations on the death penalty, which international law keeps exclusive to the “most serious crimes” that involve intentional homicide.

Minister of State for Interior, Talal Chaudhry, the sponsor of the bill, highlighted that the amendment is not a dilution of the law but a move towards legal maturity. The amendment followed extensive consultations with religious scholars, legal luminaries, and members of civil society to guarantee the new legislation honors Islamic values as well as international obligations.

The Critics Push Back: A Crime Too Heinous for Leniency?

In spite of the rationale presented by the government, a number of lawmakers have shown strong opposition. PTI Senator Barrister Syed Ali Zafar stated that stripping a woman in public is as violent and dehumanizing an act as murder and should continue to be punishable by death. “Weakening the death penalty undermines the state’s position against crimes that shred the social fabric,” he cautioned.

Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri of the Balochistan Awami Party joined in these sentiments, saying this legislative action would encourage would-be criminals. “Criminals will now fear less and act more,” she contended, adding that the core issue is inadequate policing and low conviction rates, rather than the harshness of sentences.

Government’s Response: “Severity Alone Doesn’t Deter Crime”

Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar countered the criticism by emphasizing a bitter fact: harsh punishments have little to do with crime prevention. “Several European countries have altogether done away with the death penalty and yet they are reporting much lower crime rates,” he said.

He also noted the historical background of the capital punishment provision. The death penalty for this offense was added in 1982 under the regime of military dictator General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, whose legislation tended to instill controversy as it mixed extreme punishments with socio-religious ideology.

Public Reaction: Divided Between Justice and Rights

The reaction of the public has been polarized. Human rights groups and legal reformists hail the transition while many citizens—particularly women’s rights groups are struggling with issues of accountability and justice in a nation where criminals targeting women rarely face punishment.

“I support aligning our laws with international norms, but this must be paired with real reforms in police investigations and judicial processes,” said a Karachi-based rights lawyer. “Otherwise, it sends a dangerous message.”

Reform Beyond Rhetoric

As Pakistan goes ahead with this contentious legal change, the true test will be implementation. Without meaningful reforms in law enforcement, prosecution, and victim support mechanisms, even the most forward-thinking legal reforms stand the risk of remaining symbolic.

This amendment is a turning point in the legal history of Pakistan a balancing between international diplomacy and domestic justice. Whether it proves to be a step forward or backward awaits to be seen.

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