Rape Laws in Pakistan
The Protection of Women (Criminal Laws Amendment) Act, 2006, popularly known as the Women's Protection Act (WPA), was passed during the time of President General Pervaiz Musharraf. It provided 30 important amendments to the existing ‘Offence of Zina and Qazf (Enforcement of Hadood Ordinance 1979)', the ‘Pakistan Penal Code (Act XLV of 1860)', the ‘Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 (Act V of 1898)', and the ‘Dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act 1939.' The Act removed 'rape' from the Hudood Ordinances and re-inserted it in the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), as had been the case prior to the Hudood Ordinances being promulgated by President General Zia-ul-Haq in 1979.
For the full text of the Women’s Protection Act, 2006, click here.
