Senate backs bill adding tough penalties for witchcraft and sorcery claims
“The Senate passed a bill to amend the Pakistan Penal Code by adding a new provision that would punish witchcraft, sorcery and related promotion with jail and fines.”
Key points
- The Senate passed a bill to amend the Pakistan Penal Code by adding a new provision that would punish witchcraft, sorcery and related promotion with jail and fines.
- The measure also targets services disguised as spiritual healing while carving out an exemption for licensed counselling.
Pakistan’s Senate has approved legislation to amend the Pakistan Penal Code by creating a new offence aimed at witchcraft, sorcery and the promotion of such practices. The bill proposes prison terms ranging from six months to seven years, along with fines that can reach Rs1 million.
Under the proposed section, the law would cover people who practice or publicise black magic or similar acts, including those offering such services while presenting them as spiritual healing or counselling. The text of the bill also includes an exemption for spiritual counselling provided under a licence issued by a competent authority.
During the same sitting, the upper house passed additional bills across several sectors, including measures related to mental health, nursing, medical and dental regulation, curriculum and textbooks, and civil service reforms.
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