Islamabad, July 18, 2025: The Senate on Friday passed a landmark bill amending Pakistan’s criminal laws to abolish the death penalty for individuals who harbor suspects involved in the kidnapping or public humiliation of women.
The legislation, which enjoyed broad support in the upper house, replaces capital punishment with life imprisonment, confiscation of property, and monetary fines for those found guilty of such crimes.
Under the new provisions, suspects accused of criminal assault or public exposure of women can now be arrested without a warrant. These crimes remain non-bailable and non-compoundable, ensuring that legal proceedings cannot be settled privately or bypassed through bail.
The debate in the Senate saw divided opinions. Senator Ali Zafar argued for retaining the death penalty in cases involving the forcible disrobing of women, calling it a deterrent for egregious crimes. Senator Samina Mumtaz voiced concerns that the bill might undermine protections for women and was being introduced to appease international critics of Pakistan’s human rights record.
Responding to these concerns, Law Minister Senator Azam Nazir Tarar said, “It is a misconception that harsher punishments deter crime. Despite having the death penalty for over a hundred offenses, we have not seen a reduction in crime rates. In contrast, countries in Europe that have abolished capital punishment have witnessed a decline in crime.”
Tarar further emphasized the need for judicial caution, pointing out that false accusations in personal or property disputes had previously led to harsh, irreversible sentences. He also highlighted that under Sharia law, the death penalty is prescribed only for four specific crimes.
The bill now proceeds to the National Assembly for further consideration before it can become law.
