ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Senate on Friday passed the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill 2016 unanimously aimed at taking special measures to root out the evil of terrorism from the country with an exemplary deterrence.
The State Minister for Interior Balighur Rehman piloted the bill in the Upper House of the Parliament.
The minister said that certain amendments were proposed in the Pakistan Penal Code, the Police Act 1861, the Qanoon-e-Shahdat 1984 and the Protection of Pakistan Act 2014.
Under the amendments sentences have been enhanced for those involved in providing false information, promoting religious and ethnic hatred and involved in forced marriages.
He said that additional responsibilities were given to police department including keeping check on sectarianism and proliferation of hate material etc.
The minister said that the amendments also envisage punishment for those involved in lynching.