Staff Reporter
Islamabad
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday approved, in principle, a law on chemical castration of rapists. The decision was made during a federal cabinet meeting wherein the law ministry presented a draft of the anti-rape ordinance. The draft includes increasing women’s role in policing, fast-tracking rape cases and witness protection.
Stressing that this was a serious matter, Imran Khan said no delay will be tolerated. “We need to ensure a safe environment for our citizens,” reports a news channel.
The premier said the legislation will be clear and transparent with strict enforcement. He said the rape survivors will be able to register complaints without fear, adding that the government will protect their identity.
Sources said some federal ministers also recommended public hanging for the rape convicts. But the premier said castration will be a start. The federal cabinet has, in principle, approved strict severe punishment for rape convicts.
Talking to media about decisions taken by the federal cabinet, which met in Islamabad with Prime Minister Imran Khan in the chair, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz said that federal cabinet has approved in principle the Anti-rape (investigation and trial) Ordinance and Pakistan Penal Code (Amendment) Ordinance 2020. The Minister said the Prime Minister had directed to the Law Ministry to finalize provisions of the proposed Ordinance.
The minister said acts of gang-rape have also been inserted in the proposed law in which harsh punishments, including death penalty, have been suggested to give exemplary sentences to the offenders of rape.
Faraz said the Cabinet approved the establishment of a Special Technology Zones Authority to promote technology in the country. He said special technology zones will be set up initially in Peshawar, Islamabad, Lahore and Haripur. The establishment of these zones in Karachi and Quetta was also approved.
The Economic Affairs Division informed the Cabinet that at present the repayment of 1.7 billion dollars to 2 billion dollars of loans taken during the period of May to December this year has been extended by the G-20 countries.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister of Industries and Production Hammad Azhar said the government imported around 1,25,000 tons of sugar due to which a decline of 10 to 12 rupees per kilogramme at the ex-mill price of the commodity has been witnessed in last ten days.
