Senate Panel Seeks Comparative Study on Blood Money Practices in Muslim Countries

News Desk

Islamabad: The Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice has directed the Ministry of Law to compile a comprehensive report on blood money (diyyah) practices across Muslim countries, including a comparative chart on the current values of gold, silver, and other traditional assets used in its estimation.

The directive was issued during a committee meeting held at the Parliament House on Tuesday, chaired by Senator Farooq Hamid Naek. The committee deliberated on proposed amendments to Sections 323, 330, and 331 of the Pakistan Penal Code under The Pakistan Penal Code (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which seeks to modernize the framework for calculating blood money.

Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri, who moved the bill, emphasized that the outdated system of valuing diyyah using traditional assets like camels, gold, and silver no longer reflects economic realities. She said a more practical and just mechanism is essential to ensure fairness to both victims’ families and those liable to pay, while also reinforcing deterrence against violent crimes.

“The purpose is not just to modernize but to align the laws with the spirit of Shariah and offer justice to the aggrieved,” she said. Zehri also stressed the importance of the Islamic concept of Agilah — collective responsibility — suggesting that governments and charitable institutions should support those unable to pay diyyah to avoid undue hardship and incarceration.

A representative of the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), present at the meeting, reiterated that any amendment must remain within the bounds of Quranic injunctions. The minimum diyyah, they said, must continue to be based on a fixed amount of gold, as per Shariah.

Given the religious and legal sensitivities, the committee decided to defer further discussion to allow for broader consultation with stakeholders, including the Ministry of Interior, which has been invited to share its input on the practical implications of the proposed changes. The committee also requested the CII’s final opinion to ensure the amendments are in line with Islamic principles.

Chairman Senator Farooq Hamid Naek concluded the session by acknowledging the intent behind the bill: “The goal is to strengthen deterrence, reflect present-day economic conditions, and safeguard victims’ rights in accordance with Islamic teachings.”

Meanwhile, discussion on The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2024 — seeking changes to Article 140A and Article 160 related to local governance — was postponed due to the absence of its mover, Senator Khalida Ateeb.

The meeting was attended by Senators Shahadat Awan, Kamran Murtaza, Mohammad Abdul Qadir, Zamir Hussain Ghumro, Minister of State for Law and Justice, and Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri.