Press Release Title: Senator Farooq Hamid Naek, Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice presiding over a meeting of the committee at Parliament House Islamabad

Press Release Date: 28th October, 2026

‎The Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice, chaired by Senator Farooq Hamid Naek, met at Parliament House to consider Private Members’ Bills concerning honour killings, family courts, juvenile justice, Muslim family laws and the Federal Prosecution Service. ‎ ‎The meeting was attended by Senators Shahadat Awan, Zamir Hussain Ghumro, Muhammad Tallal Badar and Kamran Murtaza. Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri, mover of the Honour Killings Prevention Bill, participated through video link. ‎ ‎While considering The Criminal Laws (Amendment) (Honour Killings Prevention) Bill, 2026, Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri highlighted persistent gaps in the existing legal framework despite the enactment of the 2016 legislation. She observed that honour killings continue to claim hundreds of lives annually, underscoring the need to eliminate legal loopholes, strengthen deterrence and ensure accountability of those who instigate or facilitate such crimes, including through jirgas and customary practices. The proposed amendments seek stricter sentencing, enhanced criminal liability and effective State-led prosecution. ‎ ‎The Federal Minister for Law and Justice observed that several proposed safeguards were already available under existing laws and cautioned against legislative duplication. He emphasised that deficiencies in investigation, prosecution and enforcement remained the principal challenges requiring attention. ‎Committee members strongly condemned honour killings as a heinous crime and stressed that no custom, tradition or social practice could justify the taking of human life. They emphasised the need for a fundamental shift in societal attitudes, alongside strict enforcement of existing laws, particularly the provisions relating to Fasad-fil-Arz, to ensure accountability and effective deterrence. ‎ ‎Following deliberations, the Committee deferred further consideration of the Bill at the request of the Ministry of Law and Justice and the mover. Chairman Senator Farooq Hamid Naek directed the Law Division to furnish a comprehensive legal brief examining the existing statutory framework, proposed amendments and their implications. ‎ ‎The Committee also deferred consideration of The Family Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2026; The Juvenile Justice System (Amendment) Bill, 2026; The Muslim Family Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026; and The Federal Prosecution Service (Amendment) Bill, 2026, at the request of their respective movers.   The Chairman further directed the Law Division to pursue the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan for early submission of reports previously sought by the Committee.