Pakistan’s law minister on Thursday announced that bills aimed at tackling “honour killings” and boosting rape convictions would soon be voted on by parliament, days after the murder of Pakistani model Qandeel Baloch by her brother.
Rights groups and politicians have for years called for tougher laws to tackle perpetrators of violence against women in Pakistan and the move follows a slew of high-profile killings in the country.
The perpetrators of so-called honour killings in which the victim, normally a woman, is killed by a relative often walk free because they can seek forgiveness for the crime from another family member.
Rape conviction rates meanwhile are close to zero percent, largely due to the law’s reliance on circumstantial evidence and a lack of forensic testing.
Also Read: How Qandeel Baloch’s Leaked Personal Details Led to Her Murder
A committee comprised of lawmakers from both lower and upper houses of parliament unanimously approved the two bills this afternoon, meaning they could be voted on within weeks.
Law minister Zahid Hamid, who chaired the committee, said: “We have plugged all loopholes in the anti-honour killing legislation, which will be put up for approval at a joint sitting of parliament soon.”
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s ruling PML-N party has a large majority of seats in the lower house and the bills are believed to have enough backing from opposition parties to pass in the senate too.
(With AFP inputs)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)