Rape in Pakistan
Legal via fiat.
Pakistani law as currently written requires that for prosecution of rape to go forward there must be four witnesses.
Considering the type of crime we are talking about here, that means that 99% of these crimes would be unprosecutable.
And the kicker...if the victim brings charges and the charge cannot be proven under Pakistani law...then, she can be charged with adultery under Pakistani law, which has some harsh, harsh elements to it.
So, the Musharef government introduces a bill to change it.
And a large cadre of Islamic lawmakers threaten to walk out, destabilize the government, and force by-elections calling the secular government's continued existence into question. The forcing of by-elections is based on a percentage of lawmakers refusing to continue on in their positions...and apparently this faction has enough people in their pocket to force it.
Pakistani law as currently written requires that for prosecution of rape to go forward there must be four witnesses.
Considering the type of crime we are talking about here, that means that 99% of these crimes would be unprosecutable.
And the kicker...if the victim brings charges and the charge cannot be proven under Pakistani law...then, she can be charged with adultery under Pakistani law, which has some harsh, harsh elements to it.
So, the Musharef government introduces a bill to change it.
And a large cadre of Islamic lawmakers threaten to walk out, destabilize the government, and force by-elections calling the secular government's continued existence into question. The forcing of by-elections is based on a percentage of lawmakers refusing to continue on in their positions...and apparently this faction has enough people in their pocket to force it.
posted by Mark "Puff" Anderson | 8:58 AM
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