President of Pakistan Dr Arif Alvi approved the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill 2022, abolishing the punishment for attempted suicide in the country.
Stated in a press release of the President House on Friday, the President Dr Alvi approved the bill, which repeals Section 325 of the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860, which deals with penalising suicide attempt.
It may be recalled that the Senate had passed the Bill to abolish the provision of punishment for those who attempt suicide. Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has introduced the Bill while facing opposition of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI). Under Section 325 of the Pakistan Penal Code, suicide or attempted suicide was an offence punishable by one year of imprisonment, fine or both.
It is worth mentioning that in December 20, the Lower House passed the Control of Narcotics Substance Amendment Bill 2022, abolishing the death penalty for those involved in the dealing of drugs and converted it into life imprisonment.
Foreign Investment (Promotion and Protection) Amendment Bill 2022 approved: Dr Arif Alvi also approved the Foreign Investment (Promotion and Protection) Amendment Bill 2022 on Friday which amended Section I of the Foreign Investment (Promotion and Protection) Act, 2022. The recently passed legislature guarantees protection for foreign investment in the country, paving the way for a final deal with Barrick Gold for the revival of the Reko Diq gold and copper mining project.
The purpose of the amendment was to clarify the scope and application of the Foreign Investment (Promotion and Protection Act), 2022. It limits its scope to “qualified investment” in Balochistan’s Reko Diq project — in a bid to address the reservations raised by the allies in the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led federal government. President Alvi approved both the bills under Article 75 of the Constitution.
