ISLAMABAD: The law ministry on Wednesday proposed the public display of the bodies of those executed for child sexual abuse and murder in order to set an example.

Briefing the Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice, the ministry`s senior legislative advisor, Malik Hakim Khan argued that the public hanging of those convicted of such crimes will be a violation of a Supreme Court judgement and that, therefore, the only option is to display their bodies in public.

During a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Interior on Jan 22, SenatorRehman Malik announced to pass a bill for the public hanging of those found guilty of child sexual abuse and murder.

Later, a bill titled `Criminal Laws (offences relating to kidnapping or abducting a child) (Amendment) Bill, 2018` was tabled in the upper house and sent to the Senate Standing Committee on Law and Jusdceforfurtherconsideradon.

During the last meeting of the committee on Feb 21, Islamic Council of Ideology Chairman Dr Qibla Ayaz said that as per prison rules, 12 people can be called to jail to witness a hanging and that this number can be increased to 40 so the media personnel can be invited in order to give the public awareness.

Representatives of provincial home departments all supported the idea of hanging in jail premises and warned that public hangings can lead to law and order situations as well and have adverse psychological impact on children and society at large and though the law ministry supported hangings in jail, the committee directed it to lookfor other options.

The quorum was not complete in the committee in its meeting on Wednesday and the only members present were the committee chairman Senator Javed Abbasi and Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif. However, Mr Abbasi suggested the law ministry should share its opinion anyways.

Malik Hakim Khan said there was a clear direction in a Supreme Court judgement of 1994 for banning public hangings and that there is therefore no way people can be executed in public.

`However, there is the option of displaying the bodies of those executed after being convicted of child sexual abuse and murder.

But, it should be checked if this is allowed in Islam,` he said.

Barrister Saif said this would not be possible to display the bodies as Islam respects the dead.

A decision on the status of the bill will be made during the next meeting because the signatures of one fourth of the members, at least three of 11, are required to pass a bill.The national languages bill could also not be taken up for voting.

The mover of the bill, Senator Mukhtiar Ahmed Dhamrah was present, but he was told that a voting on his bill titled `The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2016` could not be conducted due to lack of quorum.

Senator Dhamrah requested that a detailed discussion had been held on the bill in which it was suggested that the provincial languages should be declared national languages and it should therefore be sent to the upper house for voting.

However, Mr Abbasi said that despite giving their consent, the majority of senators could not come to the meeting as they are either busy in Senate elections and those who are not contesting are not interested in meetings because their tenures are ending.

Several dates were considered for the next meeting but were rejected for various reasons.

It was finally decided that the next meeting will be held on March 6 though the time will be decided later.