Islamabad: The Senate Standing Committee on Interior, chaired by Senator Shahadat Awan, convened today at the Parliament House. The meeting was attended by Senators Irfan-ul-Haq Siddiqui and Samina Mumtaz Zehri, as well as representatives from various departments.

According to Senate of Pakistan, the committee’s agenda initially included the consideration of various Private Members’ Bills. However, the absence of the bill movers led to the deferral of most of these bills. Amidst these deferrals, the committee reached a significant decision by unanimously approving the “Pakistan Penal Code (Amendment) Bill, 2024,” introduced by Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri. This bill specifically targets the criminalization of necrophilia, defining it as a sexual assault on a deceased body and aims to establish stringent legal repercussions for such acts, aligning with Islamic values on respecting the deceased.

The amendment proposed by Senator Zehri was further supported by modifications from the ministry, indicating a collaborative effort to ensure the bill’s effectiveness. Additionally, the committee addressed Public Petition No. 5873 concerning a complaint against the NADRA Mega Centre in Karachi, which was resolved satisfactorily.

The approval of the amendment bill marks a pivotal step in updating the Pakistan Penal Code to cover previously unaddressed legal gaps, reflecting the committee’s commitment to upholding moral and ethical standards through legislative means.