Under the current law, approved by a former military dictator in 1979, prosecuting a rape case requires testimony from four witnesses, making punishment almost impossible because such attacks are rarely public.
A woman who claims she was raped but fails to prove her case can be convicted of adultery, punishable by death.
Maulana Fazalur Rahman, a leader of the Islamic coalition, said Tuesday that lawmakers in his group would vacate their seats in the National Assembly if the government tries to get the assembly's approval to change the law.
"We will render every sacrifice for the protection of the Shariah (traditional Islamic) laws," he said at a news conference.
However, the ruling Pakistan Muslim Party — which has a majority in the assembly — has praised Musharraf for taking steps to amend the law and end the four-witness requirement.
- Rape law rankles some Pakistan lawmakers
Victim: Would you mind dragging me out in front of at least four witnesses before you rape me?
Rapist: Oh, certainly. After all, I wouldn’t want you to be stoned to death for adultery should you become impregnated due to my act of violence against you.
Yeah right. Four witnesses. (shakes head)
Kudos to President Musharraf's party for challenging this ridiculous law.
(hums to self about the importance of the separation of religious law and government... not to mention Amnesty International, an organization that has been working for years to prevent stoning-women-because-they-were-raped-without-witness situations)
