Parliament passes bill for chemical castration for sex offenders in Pakistan

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• Nov 18, 2021 | moderator

Islamabad: Pakistan government approved strict laws for habitual rapists in the country. In the latest development, the government issues approval for the chemical castration upon sex offenders.

The parliament has passed a new bill that intends to speed up convictions and force tougher penalties.

The bill's approval came as a response to public outcry against the increase in tragic incidents of rape and abuse. Since, there was a high demand from the citizens of Pakistan for the inclusion of strict laws for controlling crime. 

The bill's passage appeared nearly a year after President Arif Alvi approved the new anti-rape directive. He also called for the chemical castration of rapists with the convict's consent and set up specific courts for such cases.

The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill 2021 was passed along with 33 other bills by the joint session of parliament on Wednesday. Further, it seeks to revise the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860, and the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898.

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According to the bill, "Chemical castration is a process duly informed by rules drafted by the prime minister. A person is declared incompetent of making sexual intercourse for any time of his life, as may be determined by the court through administration of medications which shall be carried out through a notified medical board."

However, the government faced opposition from a few leaders. Jamaat-i-Islami Senator Mushtaq Ahmed disagreed over the bill and termed it un-Islamic and against Sharia.

Ahmed added that a rapist should be hanged publicly. However, there was no mention of castration in Sharia.

The process of chemical castration includes the use of drugs to reduce sexual activity. According to reports, it is a legitimate form of punishment in nations including South Korea, Poland, the Czech Republic, and some states in the US.