ISLAMABAD: The Senate on Monday unanimously passed a landmark bill criminalising torture and custodial deaths.
The torture and custodial death prevention and punishment bill, moved by the PPP parliamentary leader in the upper house, was also welcomed by the treasury benches, indicating that it would sail through the National Assembly to become an act of the parliament after assent by the president.
“It is a much-needed bill. It is necessary and urgent,” Human Rights Minister Dr Shireen Mazari said when a leave was sought to introduce the bill.
The bill prescribes a punishment with imprisonment for a term not less than three years, which may extend to 10 years, and with fine, which may extend to Rs2 million, to those who commit, abet or conspire to commit torture.