ISLAMABAD: Session of the Senate began at the Parliament House in Islamabad this afternoon with Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani in the chair.

The House passed “The Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention and Punishment) Bill 2021”.

The Bill was introduced by Senator Sherry Rehman.

Leader of the House Shahzad Waseem said a negotiated peace settlement is the only solution to Afghan issue.

According to the statement of objects and reason of the bill “Custodial torture and deaths” was a world-wide phenomenon inflicted upon individuals irrespective of gender, religion, financial status, or health conditions.

The statement said this type of violation of human rights was alarming in Pakistan where brutal atrocities were perpetuated by police and other law enforcement agencies.

It said Pakistan needed to make torture and custodial deaths criminal as an important step in stemming widespread abuse and exploitation.

The existing provisions of Pakistan Penal Code stipulated penalties for certain acts of torture under related offenses such as ”causing hurt to extort confession or to compel restoration of property”, “ Wrongful confinement to extort confession or compel restoration of property”, or provisions governing “criminal force and assault.”

However, these provisions were either vague or not comprehensive enough to be used for criminalizing torture, or custodial deaths.

This amendment in the PPC provided definition for “torture”, “Custody”, and “custodial deaths” inflicted by any person, police, or law enforcement agency.

Moreover, the custodial deaths were proposed to be dealt under the offense of Qatl e amd (Section 300 of PPC.

The House also referred the four bills to concerned committees for further deliberation.

The bills included the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947 [The Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2021], the Establishment of Ibadat International University, Islamabad [The Ibadat International University Islamabad Bill, 2021].

The House also recommended the Government to start metro bus service from Faizabad to Rawat on priority basis. It said since Islamabad Expressway is a wide road, the service can be started without any delays by plying metro buses on a dedicated lane at the Expressway.