Pakistan rights campaigners have accused Prime Minister Imran Khan of "baffling ignorance" after the former playboy cricketer blamed how women dress for a rise in rape cases.

In a weekend interview on live television, Oxford-educated Khan said an increase in rapes indicated the "consequences in any society where vulgarity is on the rise".

"The incidents of rape of women... (have) actually very rapidly increased in society," he said.&nbsp;

He advised women to cover up to prevent temptation.

"This entire concept of purdah is to avoid temptation, not everyone has the willpower to avoid it," he said, using a term that can refer to modest dress or the segregation of the sexes.&nbsp;

Hundreds&nbsp;have signed a statement circulating online Wednesday calling Khan's comments "factually incorrect, insensitive and dangerous".

"Fault rests solely with the rapist and the system that enables the rapist, including a culture fostered by statements such as those made by (Khan)," the statement said.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, an independent rights watchdog, said Tuesday it was "appalled" by the comments.&nbsp;

"Not only does this betray a baffling ignorance of where, why and how rape occurs, but it also lays the blame on rape survivors, who, as the government must know, can range from young children to victims of honour crimes," it said.

Pakistan is a deeply conservative country where victims of sexual abuse are often viewed with suspicion and criminal complaints are rarely seriously investigated.&nbsp;

Much of the country lives under an "honour" code where women who bring "shame" on the family can be subjected to violence or murder.

It regularly ranks among the worst places in the world for gender equality.&nbsp;

Nationwide protests erupted last year when a police chief admonished a gang-rape victim for driving at night without a male companion.&nbsp;

The Franco-Pakistani mother was assaulted in front of her children on the side of a motorway after her car ran out of fuel.&nbsp;

Last year, Khan was also criticised &nbsp;after another television appearance where he failed to challenge a Muslim cleric's insistence that coronavirus had been unleashed because of the wrongdoings of women.&nbsp;

The latest controversy comes as the organisers behind International Women's Day marches battle what they have called a coordinated disinformation campaign against them, including doctored images and videos circulated online.

It has led to blasphemy accusations -- a hugely sensitive issue in Pakistan where allegations have previously led mobs to attack people.

The organisers of the annual rally have called for the prime minister to intervene.

In his weekend TV appearance, Khan also blamed divorce rates in Britain on the "sex, drugs and rock and roll" culture that began in the 1970s, when the twice-divorced Khan was gaining a reputation in London as a playboy.

Pakistan rights campaigners have accused Prime Minister Imran Khan of "baffling ignorance" after the former playboy cricketer blamed how women dress for a rise in rape cases.

Pakistan rights campaigners have accused Prime Minister Imran Khan of "baffling ignorance" after the former playboy cricketer blamed how women dress for a rise in rape cases. In a weekend interview on live television, Oxford-educated Khan said an increase in rapes indicated the "consequences in any society where vulgarity is on the rise". "The incidents of rape of women... (have) actually very rapidly increased in society," he said. He advised women to cover up to prevent temptation. "This entire concept of purdah is to avoid temptation, not everyone has the willpower to avoid it," he said, using a term that can refer to modest dress or the segregation of the sexes. Hundreds have signed a statement circulating online Wednesday calling Khan's comments "factually incorrect, insensitive and dangerous". "Fault rests solely with the rapist and the system that enables the rapist, including a culture fostered by statements such as those made by (Khan)," the statement said. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, an independent rights watchdog, said Tuesday it was "appalled" by the comments. "Not only does this betray a baffling ignorance of where, why and how rape occurs, but it also lays the blame on rape survivors, who, as the government must know, can range from young children to victims of honour crimes," it said. Pakistan is a deeply conservative country where victims of sexual abuse are often viewed with suspicion and criminal complaints are rarely seriously investigated. Much of the country lives under an "honour" code where women who bring "shame" on the family can be subjected to violence or murder. It regularly ranks among the worst places in the world for gender equality. Nationwide protests erupted last year when a police chief admonished a gang-rape victim for driving at night without a male companion. The Franco-Pakistani mother was assaulted in front of her children on the side of a motorway after her car ran out of fuel. Last year, Khan was also criticised after another television appearance where he failed to challenge a Muslim cleric's insistence that coronavirus had been unleashed because of the wrongdoings of women. The latest controversy comes as the organisers behind International Women's Day marches battle what they have called a coordinated disinformation campaign against them, including doctored images and videos circulated online. It has led to blasphemy accusations -- a hugely sensitive issue in Pakistan where allegations have previously led mobs to attack people. The organisers of the annual rally have called for the prime minister to intervene. In his weekend TV appearance, Khan also blamed divorce rates in Britain on the "sex, drugs and rock and roll" culture that began in the 1970s, when the twice-divorced Khan was gaining a reputation in London as a playboy.

Backlash after Pakistan PM Imran Khan links rape to how women dress

Pakistan’s president has approved a much-awaited new rape law that will create special courts to try cases within four months.

"The ordinance will help expedite cases of sexual abuse against women and children. Special courts will be set up across the country to expedite trials and cases of rape suspects as soon as possible," President Arif Alvi said on Twitter.

But Rights activists and constitutional experts in Pakistan termed the approved Anti-Rape Ordinance 2020 as useless and eyewash and ruled out the possibility of countering the menace through it.

“Such legislation is a mere eyewash as it did not help in protecting the victims," said Sadia Bokhari of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) while talking to Dawn.

She added that public hanging and castration could not guarantee the end of rape cases, and pressed for effective implementation of the law that would create real deterrence for rapists.

Another expert, lawyer Hamid Khan termed the castration cruel, unusual, unconstitutional, and un-Islamic and said it was an irreparable loss for the convict, reported Dawn.

"In Pakistan`s criminal justice system, a convict was proven innocent even after 17 years of incarceration," he said, adding that had the convict been subjected to castration, his physical condition could not have been reversed.

Both the activists were of the view that the government should ensure strict implementation of the existing laws as in many cases the suspected rapists got off scot-free because of various loopholes, including an out-of-court settlement with the victim`s family, reported Dawn.

The ordinance&nbsp;allows for chemical castration of rapists, reported Dawn.

As per it, special courts would be established throughout the country which will wrap up the cases within four months. Anti-rape crisis cells would be set up for conducting medico-legal examination within six hours of the incident.&nbsp;

A countrywide registry of sexual offenders will also be established with the help of the National Database and Registration Authority, reported Dawn.

Under the ordinance, disclosing the identities of the victims would be prohibited and declared a punishable offence.&nbsp;

Police and government officials showing negligence in investigating the cases would be jailed for three years along with the imposition of fines.&nbsp;

They will also be punished for providing false information.

However, there is a change in the draft approved by the Cabinet Committee on Legislative Cases (CCLC).&nbsp;

Originally, CCLC proposed castration for the first or repeated offenders, and the concept of chemical castration was also introduced mainly as a form of rehabilitation and subject to the consent of the offender.

Now, as per the new change, the consent of the convict will not be required for carrying out castration, but it will be the discretion of the judge of the trial court.

The consent for the purpose of chemical castration was introduced in the draft bill since the international law makes it mandatory to take the consent of the convict before the said procedure.&nbsp;

The new law will lapse if parliament does not approve it within 120 days.

Nearly 1,000 women are killed in Pakistan each year in so-called “honour killings” for allegedly violating conservative norms on love and marriage.

(With inputs from agencies)

Pakistan’s president has approved a much-awaited new rape law that will create special courts to try cases within four months. "The ordinance will help expedite cases of sexual abuse against women and children.

Pakistan’s president has approved a much-awaited new rape law that will create special courts to try cases within four months. "The ordinance will help expedite cases of sexual abuse against women and children. Special courts will be set up across the country to expedite trials and cases of rape suspects as soon as possible," President Arif Alvi said on Twitter. But Rights activists and constitutional experts in Pakistan termed the approved Anti-Rape Ordinance 2020 as useless and eyewash and ruled out the possibility of countering the menace through it. “Such legislation is a mere eyewash as it did not help in protecting the victims," said Sadia Bokhari of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) while talking to Dawn. She added that public hanging and castration could not guarantee the end of rape cases, and pressed for effective implementation of the law that would create real deterrence for rapists. Another expert, lawyer Hamid Khan termed the castration cruel, unusual, unconstitutional, and un-Islamic and said it was an irreparable loss for the convict, reported Dawn. "In Pakistan`s criminal justice system, a convict was proven innocent even after 17 years of incarceration," he said, adding that had the convict been subjected to castration, his physical condition could not have been reversed. Both the activists were of the view that the government should ensure strict implementation of the existing laws as in many cases the suspected rapists got off scot-free because of various loopholes, including an out-of-court settlement with the victim`s family, reported Dawn. The ordinance allows for chemical castration of rapists, reported Dawn. As per it, special courts would be established throughout the country which will wrap up the cases within four months. Anti-rape crisis cells would be set up for conducting medico-legal examination within six hours of the incident. A countrywide registry of sexual offenders will also be established with the help of the National Database and Registration Authority, reported Dawn. Under the ordinance, disclosing the identities of the victims would be prohibited and declared a punishable offence. Police and government officials showing negligence in investigating the cases would be jailed for three years along with the imposition of fines. They will also be punished for providing false information. However, there is a change in the draft approved by the Cabinet Committee on Legislative Cases (CCLC). Originally, CCLC proposed castration for the first or repeated offenders, and the concept of chemical castration was also introduced mainly as a form of rehabilitation and subject to the consent of the offender. Now, as per the new change, the consent of the convict will not be required for carrying out castration, but it will be the discretion of the judge of the trial court. The consent for the purpose of chemical castration was introduced in the draft bill since the international law makes it mandatory to take the consent of the convict before the said procedure. The new law will lapse if parliament does not approve it within 120 days. Nearly 1,000 women are killed in Pakistan each year in so-called “honour killings” for allegedly violating conservative norms on love and marriage. (With inputs from agencies)

Pakistan rape law comes into effect, experts term it as 'eyewash'

To combat rising cases of sexual attacks on women and children in Pakistan, the federal Cabinet has approved in-principle two anti-rape ordinances aimed at handing out exemplary punishment, including chemical castration and hanging, to rapists, according to a media report.

A Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad on Tuesday also decided to change the definition of rape, the Dawn News reported on Wednesday.

The Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trial) Ordinance 2020 and Pakistan Penal Code (Amendment) Ordinance 2020 would be finalised in a week to be promulgated, Information Minister Shibli Faraz said.

The two anti-rape ordinances, approved in principal by the Cabinet, are aimed at handing out exemplary punishment to rapists, including chemical castration and hanging, the report said.

Hailing the "big decision", Faraz said the anti-rape ordinances change the basic definition of rape and suggest severe punishment for gang rape and hanging of rapists.

For the first time in the history of Pakistan, the definition of rape has been changed by incorporating "transgender" and "gang-rape" in it, the report said.

The proposed laws also prohibits the controversial ''two-finger''&nbsp;test performed on rape survivors. The World Health Organisation has already declared the test as ''unscientific, medically unnecessary and unreliable''. Human Rights groups have also termed the test as invasive, disrespectful and a gross violation of a woman's right to dignity and privacy.

Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari tweeted, "Cabinet Committee on Disposal of Legislative Cases (CCLC) will now finalise (the ordinances) and it should become operational in next few days. It includes an expansive definition of rape, establishment of special court, anti-rape crisis cell, protection of victims and witnesses and prohibition of two-finger test."

Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry termed the approval of the ordinances a landmark achievement of the government.

He said the ordinances also permitted chemical castration of habitual rapists.

To combat rising cases of sexual attacks on women and children in Pakistan, the federal Cabinet has approved in-principle two anti-rape ordinances aimed at handing out exemplary punishment, including chemical castration and hanging, to rapists, according to a media report.

To combat rising cases of sexual attacks on women and children in Pakistan, the federal Cabinet has approved in-principle two anti-rape ordinances aimed at handing out exemplary punishment, including chemical castration and hanging, to rapists, according to a media report. A Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad on Tuesday also decided to change the definition of rape, the Dawn News reported on Wednesday. The Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trial) Ordinance 2020 and Pakistan Penal Code (Amendment) Ordinance 2020 would be finalised in a week to be promulgated, Information Minister Shibli Faraz said. The two anti-rape ordinances, approved in principal by the Cabinet, are aimed at handing out exemplary punishment to rapists, including chemical castration and hanging, the report said. Hailing the "big decision", Faraz said the anti-rape ordinances change the basic definition of rape and suggest severe punishment for gang rape and hanging of rapists. For the first time in the history of Pakistan, the definition of rape has been changed by incorporating "transgender" and "gang-rape" in it, the report said. The proposed laws also prohibits the controversial ''two-finger'' test performed on rape survivors. The World Health Organisation has already declared the test as ''unscientific, medically unnecessary and unreliable''. Human Rights groups have also termed the test as invasive, disrespectful and a gross violation of a woman's right to dignity and privacy. Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari tweeted, "Cabinet Committee on Disposal of Legislative Cases (CCLC) will now finalise (the ordinances) and it should become operational in next few days. It includes an expansive definition of rape, establishment of special court, anti-rape crisis cell, protection of victims and witnesses and prohibition of two-finger test." Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry termed the approval of the ordinances a landmark achievement of the government. He said the ordinances also permitted chemical castration of habitual rapists.

Pak Cabinet approves in-principle chemical castration, hanging of rapists

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Backlash after Pakistan PM Imran Khan links rape to how women dress

Pakistan rape law comes into effect, experts term it as 'eyewash'

Pak Cabinet approves in-principle chemical castration, hanging of rapists