Treatment, not punishment: Senate passes bill to decriminalise attempted suicide
Senate passed bill to decriminalise the attempted suicide and provide medical treatment instead
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Senate on Monday passed a bill seeking treatment of those who attempt suicide and survive rather than punishment under Section 325 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).
The bill urges to decriminalise attempted suicide, and instead offers medical treatment and protection to those people who make an effort to take their own lives.
Under Section 325 of PPC, attempted suicide is punishable with maximum of one-year in prison with fine. “Whoever attempts to commit suicide and does any act towards the commission of such offence, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both,” the law currently says.
Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill 2017 was first moved in October by Senator Karim Khawaja. Senate Standing Committee on Interior has already cleared the bill and asked the state to treat those who try to end their lives. The committee had stressed that survivors of suicide attempts should be provided medical treatment. They should not be punished for it as it happens due to chemical changes in the mind, the committee said, urging that it is a disease.
It was deferred last year by the upper house of parliament and Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani had called for inputs from Council of Islamic Ideology (CII). After clearance from CII, the bill was moved for next steps.
