Women MNAs one on public hanging of rapists, killers

ISLAMABAD: All women Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) Friday demanded award of death sentence to the killer of Noor Mukadam and public hanging of rapists and killers of women and children elsewhere in the country.

An MNA from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Asma Qadeer got emotional while speaking in the house and could utter only a few words while mentioning the gruesome murder of Noor Mukadam. She demanded public hanging of the murderer of the young woman in a posh area of Islamabad.

Mehnaz Akbar Aziz from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) and Shamim Ara from the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) demanded capital punishment for the killer of Noor Mukadam. Shamim Ara also demanded capital punishment for all other murderers and rapists of innocent children. “We will have to implement laws strictly so that no one can dare commit such crimes, whether it is Motorway case or the killing of Noor Mukadam,” she added.

MNA Mehnaz Akbar Aziz said: “Noor Mukadam murder like incidents will not stop unless death penalty is implemented.” She said the culprits should be tried in anti-terrorist and speedy trial courts. “We want decision in the case not in a year but in months,” she demanded.

Ms Romina Khurshid from the PMLN also demanded an exemplary punishment for the culprit, saying that the tragic incident should not be shown on the media again and again so that others could not get encouragement. She also regretted killing of a woman in Rawalpindi after rape after murder of her 14-month infant.

MNA Uzma Riaz said only condemnation would not serve the purpose, rather implements of laws would have to be ensured. She also demanded immediate blocking of vulgar websites and banning of immoral dramas on television channels.

Ms Zille Huma asked the government to take notice increasing use of drugs in fashionable families and in educational institutions. MNA Sajida Begum called for proper investigation into child abuse and sexual harassment in government and private educational institutions.

Jamshed Thomas and Ms Sunila Ruth also raised the issue of rape and murder of three-year-old girl in Lahore. She said laws already exist but there was a need to change attitude as there had been lot of moral deterioration.

Nusrat Wahid called for inclusion of Surah Al Nisa and Surah Noor in syllabus of Grade 9 and 10 so that women could know their rights and duties. MNA Saima Nadeem demanded speedy trial of Noor Mukadam case and exemplary punishment for the culprit.

Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) called for enforcement of laws in the light of Holy Quraan and Sunnah. “Had culprits involved in heinous crimes punished according to Islamic laws, we would not have to see such tragic incidents,” he said.

Shahida Akhtar Ali from the JUI-F also stressed legislation in the light of Holy Quraan and Sunnah, saying that corrective measures would also have to be taken to reform society and promote moral values. The PTI parliamentarian Ghazala Satti observed that a country could not make progress where 52pc of population who are women do not feel safe.

Syed Nausheen Iftikhar suggested the formation of a committee of the House so that such heinous crimes could be taken to logical end at the earliest. PPP MNA Shahida Rehmani said that women segment of the society should be provided security under Article 35 of the Constitution.

Dr Shazia Sobia, while condemning the tragic incident, said that laws were there but there was a need to implement those without any discrimination. Minister of State for Climate Change Zartaj Gul mentioned that it was for the first time that the sitting government became applicant in the Noor Mukadam case. “This is not a blind case, every fact is before us and all the culprits have also been apprehended,” she said.

Minister for Human Rights, Shireen Mazari said the government was closely following the case, while the prime minister was also being apprised of the developments. She said the case was moving in the right direction.

However, she said the electronic and social media should avoid sensationalism on the issue and such photos on the media also not be shown which could hurt the family of victim.

She said women should not be exploited in the name of wife, mother and daughter, saying that first she was a woman. “We use terms of wife and mother for honour killing and domestic violence,” she said, emphasising that a woman herself had to be stronger.

The minister said it was wrong to say that a woman was victimised because she was wearing a western dress and she was not following cultural values. Nasiba Channa from the PPP also regretted the murder of Noor Mukadam, saying such incidents were taking place for lack of implementation of laws.

PMLN MNA Khurram Dastgir said the Noor Mukadam case was a challenge and a test case for the federal government. The house also offered Fateha for the departed souls of people who died in the transformer blast in Hyderabad after the issue was raised by the PPP and MQM parliamentarians. Later, the proceedings of the House were adjourned due to lack of quorum before taking up any business.