Senate panel postpones Article 160 Amendment Bill, heated debate on Diyat law and gold-silver conversion

A meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice, chaired by Senator Farooq H. Naik, saw a mix of legislative deliberations and internal tensions as members voiced objections over the chairman’s late arrival and engaged in a spirited debate over amendments to Pakistan’s Diyat law, reported 24NewsHD TV Tuesday.

The session began with Senator Kamran Murtaza openly criticising the late start, stating, “The time of this committee has changed twice and you are late.” Chairman Naik responded by clarifying that the delay was due to the non-availability of the committee room and apologised, adding, “The change in time is not my fault.”

The committee postponed discussion on the Article 160 Amendment Bill, after the bill’s mover requested a delay due to a recent surgery.

Attention then shifted to Senator Samina Zehri’s proposed amendment to the Pakistan Penal Code, seeking to replace silver with gold in calculating Diyat (compensation for bodily harm or death).

“Not because of what is in Islam, but because silver no longer holds value,” she argued, adding bluntly, “People like us get into accidents. They go away after beating. We pay crores of rupees in fees—if needed, we even feed the judges.”

Senator Kamran Murtaza opposed the change, saying, “This is not an issue that benefits anyone. Let what is going on continue as it is.”

In response to a key question from the committee, the Chairman of the Council of Islamic Ideology affirmed that Diyat can be recalculated in gold, but emphasised that this would require formal legal amendments.

Senator Zameer Ghumro requested a comparative breakdown of the monetary difference between gold and silver, while Barrister Aqeel suggested calling not just the Ministry of Law, but also the Ministry of Interior and the FBR for a holistic perspective.

Chairman Naik directed the Law Ministry to give a conclusive opinion and agreed that the Interior Ministry’s stance should also be obtained.

“We’ll also take input from the Ministry of Interior on this matter,” he said.

Senator Samina Zehri further highlighted the slow pace of justice, saying, “A TikToker is killed and the murderer is also a TikToker. The murderer was caught, but what happened? The case is still going on.”

The committee concluded by seeking detailed input from the Ministry of Interior and the FBR on the proposed amendments, with the matter to be revisited in the next meeting.

Reporter: Amanat Gishkori