Islamabad, In a firm stance against the proposition of public executions for rapists, Senator Sherry Rehman, Vice President of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), underscored the necessity for improved legal processes and investigations over capital punishment. This statement comes in response to a proposal by Jamat-e-Islami’s Senator Mushtaq Ahmed for amendments to the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and Criminal Procedure Code to introduce public executions as a deterrent against sexual crimes.

According to Pakistan Peoples Party, during a Senate session, Rehman articulated the PPP’s longstanding opposition to the death penalty, emphasizing that historical instances of public executions, such as those during Ziaul Haq’s regime, did not lead to a reduction in crime rates. She highlighted the importance of strengthening the criminal justice system, including enhancing police funding, criminal investigations, and training for officers handling rape cases, as more effective measures to combat sexual violence.

Senator Rehman stressed that adopting public executions could lead to demands for similar punishments for other crimes, diverting attention from the need for systemic reforms in law enforcement and judicial processes. She argued for a holistic approach to addressing violence and sexual crimes, focusing on legal reforms, fair trials, and cultural changes rather than reverting to what she termed medieval practices.

The PPP Vice President called for a nuanced approach to crimes against women, advocating for comprehensive legal reforms and the reallocation of resources to support survivors. She firmly rejected public hangings as a solution, suggesting that focusing on increasing conviction rates through fair trials would serve as a more effective deterrent against sexual crimes in contemporary society.