There seems to be no let-up in the war sparked by a government-sponsored resolution introduced in the National Assembly that called for public hanging of those killing children after sexual abuse.
The proposal invoked a strong response from some opposition parties, especially Pakistan Peoples Party and National Awami Party, while the government’s own house too is sharply divided over the issue.
Minister for Human Rights Shreen Mazari and Science and Technology Minister Fawad Chaudhry have strongly come out against the resolution.
Miss Mazari rejected the claim that the move had the backing of Prime Minister Imran Khan, though the strong advocacy of the resolution by some figures close to the premier suggests otherwise.
The claim of PM’s backing was made none other than the mover of the resolution, Ali Muhammad Khan, State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs.
PTI Senator and Chairman Standing Committee on Information, Broadcasting & Heritage, Faisal Javed Khan on Sunday reignited the fire by forcefully responding to a tweet of Fawad Ch wherein the latter had opposed the resolution, saying that “barbarism is not [an] answer to crimes”.
Faisal in a retweet asked: What about dignity of a child? What does a child go through? Isn't that brutal? Isn't that barbarism?
His tweet, carrying #Deterence and #Insaniat hastags, declared: Child abusers are not humans. These animals commit extreme cruelty & brutality hence they deserve extreme punishment
The emotional call received wide support by the folks, though some muted voice did call for giving sanity a chance and tackling this menace with a better and wider societal and legal response.
A couple of critics alleged the ruling party of trying to distract public attention from the real issue of inflation and poor economic situation through such "stunts".