Pakistan approves new anti-rape law after protests over attacks

The new law creates special courts to expedite trials, a sex offenders registry, and even allows chemical castration in the most brutal cases

Pakistan has been debating harsher punishments after a number of high-profile cases, including the rape of a woman beside a major road

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Pakistan's President Arif Alvi on Tuesday issued a new law requiring the establishment of special courts to speedily conclude trials of people charged with raping women or children. Photo: AP

Published: 12:44pm, 16 Dec 2020Updated: 8:58pm, 16 Dec 2020

Pakistan has introduced a rape law that will create special courts to try cases within four months, after protests over the gang-rape of a woman whose car ran out of fuel.

The presidential decree also provides for anti-rape cells to provide medical examinations within six hours of a complaint being made and creates a national sex offender registry.

“The ordinance will help expedite cases of sexual abuse against women and children. Special courts will be set up across the country to expedite trials and cases of rape suspects as soon as possible,” President Arif Alvi said on Twitter.

“A register of perpetrators of rape will be prepared at the national level. The ordinance prohibits the identification of rape victims and makes it a punishable offence,” he added.

Pakistan has been debating harsher punishments for sex offences following public indignation over high-profile cases, including the September rape of a woman beside a major road who had been driving with her two children. Two men were arrested in October and are being held in remand.

Lawmakers had considered introducing public hanging of those convicted of the sexual abuse and murder of children but Prime Minister Imran Khan said in September that it could have cost Pakistan preferential trade status with the European Union.