Senate body okays bill criminalising necrophilia

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Committee on Interior on Wednesday unanimously approved the “Pakistan Penal Code (Amendment) Bill, 2024,” which aims to address a legal gap concerning necrophilia.

The Private Member’s “Pakistan Penal Code (Amendment) Bill, 2024,” introduced by Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri, seeks to establish a clear legal stance against necrophilia—defined as sexual assault on a deceased body—by penalising it under relevant criminal laws.

The Senate Committee on Interior held its meeting under the chairmanship of Senator Shahadat Awan, who presided in the absence of the committee’s chairman, Senator Faisal Saleem Rahman.

The meeting was attended by Senators Irfanul Haq Siddiqui and Samina Mumtaz Zehri, along with representatives from relevant departments.

This move reflects a commitment to upholding the sanctity of the dead under Islamic teachings, as the Private Member’s “Pakistan Penal Code (Amendment) Bill, 2024” was passed with amendments proposed by the ministry.

The committee was scheduled to review various private members’ bills; however, due to the absence of the bill movers, these bills were deferred.

Amid the deferral of most bills, the committee also resolved Public Petition No. 5873, which addressed a complaint against the NADRA Mega Centre in Karachi.