The Senate dismissed a proposal for the public execution of sexual offenders, aiming to curb such severe crimes. Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan from JI introduced this bill in the Senate’s final session, presided over by Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani. Senator Khan justified the bill with statistics from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, noting 1,122 rape cases in five years, with 581 arrests but only 87 convictions. He argued for public executions as a deterrent, urging disregard for international opinion in favour of strict punishments.
Senator Kamil Ali Agha of PML-Q referenced the U.S. practice of broadcasting lethal injections and advocated for a stance aligned with Islamic teachings, mirroring Saudi Arabia’s approach to public executions. PTI’s Senator Humayun Mohmand echoed this sentiment, suggesting such measures could reduce crime rates significantly.
Conversely, PPP’s Senator Sherry Rehman argued against the bill, citing its barbaric nature and the inefficacy of public executions in crime prevention. She highlighted the need for policing improvements over death penalty enactments. Senator Irfan Siddiqui of PML-N and Senator Ishaq Dar shared opposition to public executions, emphasizing the importance of maintaining hangings within gallows and refining the justice system over street executions.
Barrister Ali Zafar of PTI also stood against the bill, advocating for justice system enhancements rather than public hangings. After a vote, the Senate rejected the bill with 24 against and 14 in favour, following protests from PTI members over election rigging claims, which Chairman Sanjrani agreed to discuss further.
