Castration for rapists : Pak drops draft

Islamabad: The Pakistani government dropped a controversial clause allowing for chemical castration of convicted rapists from a proposed bill, after a council of clerics said such a punishment was against Islam, a lawmaker from the ruling party said Friday.

Maleeka Bukhari from the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party said the state-run clerical council, which advises the government on religious issues, had at the last minute advised that the clause be deleted. The clause was dropped before the draft bill was sent to parliament for voting, she added.

Earlier on Wednesday, the government had backed dozens of bills, and local media incorrectly reported that the castration clause was approved. -(AP)