Stalking a woman may become an offence under the criminal law reforms being proposed by the law ministry. In this regard, it has been proposed that Section 354-B be added to the Pakistan Penal Code.
The reforms proposed by Dr Farogh Naseem are being reviewed by the federal cabinet.
Section 354-B defines the term “stalking” as any man who follows a woman and contacts or attempts to contact such a woman to foster personal interaction repeatedly, despite clear indication or disinterest by such a woman or “monitors the use by a woman of the internet, email or any other form of electronic communication, commits the offence of stalking.”
It has been proposed that if a woman complains to the officer in charge of a police station that she is being stalked by a man, the officer shall issue a notice to the man and upon finding his explanation to be unsatisfactory, through a written order, shall issue a warning, telling the man to stay away from the complainant.
However, if the man violates the order of caution, he shall be guilty of an offence punishable with imprisonment up to three months and fine for an amount of Rs100,000, the proposed PPC section says.
If the man violates the order of caution, he shall be guilty of an offence punishable with imprisonment up to three months and fine for an amount of Rs100,000, the proposed PPC section says
The law ministry has also suggested the insertion of Section 498-D in PPC whereby husband or relative of husband shall be liable for an offence for causing cruelty to wife.
The proposed section defines “cruelty” as willful conduct which is likely to drive the woman to commit suicide or to cause grave injury or danger to life, limbs or health (whether mental or physical) of the woman.
“Harassment of the woman where such harassment is with a view to coercing her or any person related to her to meet any unlawful demand for any property or valuable security or is on account of failure by her or any person related to her to meet such demand,” the proposed section says.
