ISLAMABAD: Pakistan National Assembly’s resolution calling for the public hanging of child sexual abusers, which was adopted on Friday, has divided politicians, while legal experts labeled it “populist rhetoric.”
The country’s lower house of the parliament passed the resolution with a majority vote. It seeks to introduce the public hanging of offenders convicted of sexually abusing and killing children.
“Such proposals are based on populist rhetoric and nothing else,” Reema Omar, legal adviser for the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), told Arab News. “Research clearly shows there is no link between public executions and deterrence of violent crime.”
She said that public executions are cruel, inhumane and against human dignity, which would also make them contrary to Pakistan’s constitutional and international human rights obligations.
“It is time that instead of resorting to such barbaric proposals and perpetuating the cycle of violence, out lawmakers focus on strengthening the criminal justice system to ensure perpetrators of crimes are consistently prosecuted and brought to justice in fair trials,” Omar said.
Child sexual abuse has been one of the most pressing issues in Pakistan in recent years. According to a report released by non-governmental organization Sahil, more than 10 children suffered some form of abuse every day in 2018.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan presented the resolution in the house. It was approved by all lawmakers, except the opposition Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).
The resolution was also criticized by members of the government.
“Strongly condemn this resolution this is just another grave act in line with brutal civilization practices, societies act in a balanced way barbarism is not answer to crimes … this is another expression of extremism,” Science and Technology Minister Fawad Chaudhry said in a Twitter post.
The resolution says that to stop “these shameful and brutal killings of children and give a strong deterrent effect, the killers and rapists should not only be given death penalty by hanging, but they should be hanged publicly.”
The death penalty is a divisive subject in Pakistan. A moratorium was imposed in 2008 and no executions took place between 2009 and 2011. One person was executed in 2012 and none in 2013. However, 515 persons have been executed since December 2014, and 4,225 are on the death row, according to Justice Project Pakistan (JPP) data.
“The use of the death penalty has always been a political tool,” Sarah Belal, executive-director JPP, said in a statement.
Belal said that Pakistan’s Supreme Court and Federal Shariat Court have ruled that public executions were in violation of the country’s constitution and international treaties to which it is a signatory.
Ashtar Ausaf, senior lawyer and former attorney general of Pakistan, said there was no empirical evidence that public hanging was a deterrent to the crime. “It is a sensitive matter and our lawmakers should discuss it thoroughly before legislating on it,” he said.
The resolution was also condemned by Amnesty International, which called for more protection of children.
“The authorities must focus their energies on giving children in Pakistan the protection they desperately need through strong safeguarding policies and procedures before abuse happens,” Amnesty International deputy South Asia director Omar Waraich said in a statement, adding that the perpetrators of abuse should be held to account “through fair trials without recourse to the death penalty.”
Pakistan divided over public hanging of child sexual abusers
https://arab.news/2xd99
Pakistan divided over public hanging of child sexual abusers
- National Assembly passed a resolution to publicly hang offenders convicted of child sexual abuse
- Public hanging is no deterrent to violent crime, legal experts argue
Pakistani PM speaks to Saudi, Qatari envoys as Iran fires missiles at US air base in Qatar
- Qatar called the attack a ‘flagrant violation’ of its sovereignty and said it reserved the right to respond
- In phone call with Saudi envoy, PM Shehbaz Sharif urges joint efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed concern over Iran’s missile attack on a United States (US) military base in Qatar and called for efforts to restore peace in the region, Sharif’s office said on Monday, following his telephonic talk with Qatari and Saudi envoys to Islamabad.
Iran launched missile attacks Monday on US military bases in Qatar and Iraq in retaliation for the American bombing of its nuclear sites, state media said, amid escalating tensions in the volatile region.
Qatar said it had “successfully intercepted” missiles targeting the US base, and added it reserved the right to respond in accordance with international law. The US confirmed its air base was targeted by missile attack from Iran and said no casualties were reported.
Shortly after the attack, Sharif spoke with Qatar’s Ambassador to Islamabad Ali Mubarak Ali Essa Al-Khater and expressed solidarity with the Qatari government and people. He then spoke with Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador Nawaf bin Said-Al Malki.
“The Prime Minister urged that all efforts must be made to de-escalate tensions and restore peace in the region,” Sharif’s office said, following his conversation with the Saudi envoy.
“He said Pakistan would continue to work closely with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to intensify peace efforts.”
The Qatari and Saudi envoys thanked the prime minister for expressing solidarity and immediately reaching out to them after the development that could imperil peace and stability in the region, according to Sharif’s office.
Qatar earlier said it condemned the Iranian missile attack, calling it a “flagrant violation” of its sovereignty.
“We express the State of Qatar’s strong condemnation of the attack on Al-Udeid Air Base by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, and consider it a flagrant violation of the State of Qatar’s sovereignty and airspace, as well as of international law,” foreign ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari said in a statement.
The Al-Udeid air base is home to the US Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC), which provides command and control of air power across the region as well as the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, the largest expeditionary wing in the world.
Iran’s retaliation came a day after the US launched a surprise attack Sunday morning on three of Iran’s nuclear sites, joining Israel in the biggest Western military action against the Islamic Republic since its 1979 revolution.
Just before the explosions, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian wrote on the social platform X: “We neither initiated the war nor seeking it. But we will not leave invasion to the great Iran without answer.”
PIA cancels flights to Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and UAE after Iran attacks on US bases
- Iran confirmed it had attacked US forces stationed at Qatar’s Al-Udeid air base
- The retaliation came a day after the US attacked three of Iranian nuclear facilities
KARACHI: The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has canceled its flights to Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), it said on Monday, shortly after Iran struck United States (US) bases in Qatar with missiles.
Iran confirmed it had attacked American forces stationed at Qatar’s Al-Udeid air base. A caption on the screen called it “a mighty and successful response by the armed forces of Iran to America’s aggression” as martial music played during announcement on Iranian state television.
Qatar said it “successfully intercepted” missiles targeting the US base, and added it reserved the right to respond directly and in accordance with international law following the strikes. The US confirmed its air base in Qatar was targeted by missile attack from Iran and said no casualties were reported.
PIA said it had limited its flight operations as a precautionary measure due to the ongoing situation in the Gulf region, adding that its reservation department had started transferring the bookings of passengers to other flights.
“PIA flights will be resumed after the situation returns to normal,” the airline said in a statement. “All passengers who were traveling on these flights are requested to get timely information about their flights from the PIA call center.”
A UAE government spokesperson said they were closely monitoring the regional developments and continuously assessing the situation.
Kuwait’s civil aviation body issued a statement, saying: “The country’s airspace has been temporarily closed as a precautionary measure, starting today and until further notice. The decision comes within the framework of maintaining the highest levels of safety and security in light of regional developments.”
The Al-Udeid air base is home to the US Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC), which provides command and control of air power across the region as well as the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, the largest expeditionary wing in the world.
Iran’s retaliation came a day after the US launched a surprise attack Sunday morning on three of Iran’s nuclear sites, joining Israel in the biggest Western military action against the Islamic Republic since its 1979 revolution.
Just before the explosions, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian wrote on the social platform X: “We neither initiated the war nor seeking it. But we will not leave invasion to the great Iran without answer.”
Related
Pakistan says holds ample petroleum reserves amid fears of Iran’s closure of Strait of Hormuz
- Iran’s parliament has approved cutting off the narrow shipping lane through which about 20 percent of global oil and gas passes
- State Minister Bilal Azhar Kayani says no cause of concern for Pakistanis, government prepared to address any uncertainties
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has ample petroleum reserves and an uninterrupted supply chain, a junior minister said on Monday, amid fears that Iran may cut off a vital oil and gas shipping lane in retaliation for US strikes on its nuclear facilities.
Iran’s parliament has approved cutting off the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow shipping lane in the Arabian Gulf through which about 20 percent of global oil and gas passes. It’s now up to Iran’s national security council to decide whether to move forward with the idea, which could lead to a spike in the cost of goods and services worldwide.
The price of oil jumped 4 percent shortly after trading began on Sunday night, but it quickly pared back as the focus shifted from what the US military did to how Iran would react. Oil futures were flip-flopping in Monday morning trading between gains and losses. They still remain higher than they were before the fighting began a little more than a week ago.
Pakistan’s State Minister for Finance and Railway Bilal Azhar Kayani denied rumors about a shortage of petroleum products in the South Asian country, stressing that his government was closely monitoring developments following tensions between Iran, Israel and the US to ensure stability.
“The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has directed all oil marketing companies to strictly maintain mandatory reserve levels in light of current global conditions, mitigating potential risks,” Kayani was quoted as saying by Pakistan’s Press Information Department.
“There is no cause for concern as petroleum product inventories are sufficient and supply operations continue smoothly across the nation.”
The statement came hours after President Donald Trump called for the US and other oil-producing economies to pump more oil as the White House sharpened its warnings to Iran against closing the Strait of Hormuz.
Global markets were trying to ascertain what lays ahead after the US struck on Sunday key Iranian nuclear facilities with a barrage of 30,000-pound bunker busting bombs and Tomahawk missiles.
Pakistan lacks adequate resources to run its oil- and gas-powered plants and mainly sources its oil from Arab Gulf nations.
Kayani reassured citizens that the Prime Minister’s office, Ministry of Petroleum and the Ministry of Finance were continuously monitoring the situation.
“We are fully prepared to address any uncertainties,” he said, adding the government was committed to ensuring the country’s energy security.
Pakistan extends airspace closure for Indian aircraft until July 23
- The restriction was first imposed in Apr. as part of tit-for-tat measures by India and Pakistan after an attack in disputed Kashmir
- The attack, which India blamed on Pakistan without offering evidence, led to a four-day military conflict between the two countries in May
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has extended for the second time its airspace ban on Indian aircraft until July 23, the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) said on Monday, citing continued tensions between the two countries.
The restriction was first imposed on Apr. 24 as part of a series of tit-for-tat measures announced by both India and Pakistan, days after an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir.
India blamed Pakistan for the assault that killed 26 tourists, Islamabad denied the allegation and called for a credible international probe into the incident. Both countries later engaged in a four-day military conflict in May.
“The ban on Indian aircraft from entering Pakistani airspace has been extended by one month,” the PAA said in a statement. “Pakistani airspace will remain closed to Indian aircraft until July 23, 2025.”
The ban applies to passenger and military aircraft operated by Indian airlines, according to the PAA. A Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) has also been issued in this regard.
“Any aircraft registered in or leased by India would also be prohibited from using the Pakistani airspace,” the authority added.
Pakistan had previously extended the ban till June 24. It has forced Indian airlines to reroute their flights, resulting in increased fuel consumption, longer travel times and higher operational costs.
Air India, which operates numerous flights to Europe and North America, estimated in May that the airspace ban could lead to approximately $600 million in additional expenses over the course of a year and requested compensation from the Indian government.
Pakistan stocks, rupee plunge as investors react to US strikes on Iran
- Benchmark KSE-10 Index dropped more than 3 percent to the lowest in over six weeks
- Analysts say if there was no further escalation, value buying is expected to come through
KARACHI: Pakistan’s stocks and currency markets tumbled on Monday as investors reacted to the United States’ (US) foray into the Israel-Iran conflict, traders and analysts said.
The benchmark KSE-100 index dropped more than 3 percent to 116,167 points, the lowest in more than six weeks, while the rupee continued to weaken against the US dollar in the seventh consecutive session on Monday.
The index has plunged by nearly 5 percent since June 13 when Israel first hit Iranian military and nuclear targets in Natanz, Isfahan and Fordow, killing top generals and scientists among 78 people.
“Rising geopolitical tensions following a US strike on Iran shook investor confidence, causing the KSE-100 Index to drop by 3.2 percent,” Mohammad Waqas Ghani, head of research at JS Global Capital Ltd., told Arab News, adding that this was the fourth largest single-day decline in terms of points historically.
The attacks on Iran by the US, which followed Israeli strikes, have intensified the war and deepened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, sending jitters to markets across the globe.
Monday’s 3.2 percent fall was the worst since May 8 when the index had plunged 5.9 percent day-on-day, according to Ghani.
“The spike in global oil prices has further intensified concerns about Pakistan’s external account vulnerabilities,” he added.
Cash-strapped Pakistan, which is trying to revive its debt-ridden economy with the help of International Monetary Fund’s $7 billion program, spent $17 billion on oil imports last year.
Raza Jafri, head of research at Intermarket Securities Ltd., attributed the day’s fall to redemptions at mutual funds and possible margin calls.
“Regional tensions are the main reason behind the weak sentiment,” he said, adding that if there was no further escalation, the value buying was expected to come through.
RUPEE DROP
The ongoing tensions have also impacted the Pakistani currency that lost another 0.06 percent as the greenback closed at Rs283.87, according to State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) data.
The rupee is constantly falling and has devalued 0.3 percent since the start of Iran-Israel conflict.
“The rupee is feeling the heat of this war, very negligibly though,” Zafar Paracha, secretary-general of the Exchange Companies Association of Pakistan, told Arab News.
“This stability in the exchange rate reflects the overall macroeconomic stability the country has achieved.”
