CII rules out DNA as primary evidence in rape cases

ISLAMABAD: The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) on Monday decreed DNA tests unacceptable as primary evidence in rape cases, but said they could be considered as supporting evidence. Addressing a press conference, the Council’s chairman, Maulana Muhammad Khan Sherani, said that though DNA testing was a useful and modern technique for supporting evidence, it alone could not be used as primary evidence. He added that the court of law could decide in light of the DNA test, when it was used with other evidences as a supporting material. He said the council had also rejected the Women’s Protection Act of 2006, saying its provisions were not in line with Islamic injunctions, adding that the Hudood Ordinance dealt with all these offenses. He said Islam sets procedures to determine crime cases of rape. Earlier, the Council had convened to review recommendations from its members regarding DNA to be used as evidence in rape cases and possible amendments to Pakistan’s blasphemy laws. It was earlier reported that the council was discussing a proposal to award the death sentence to people making false accusations under the blasphemy law. Allama Tahir Ashrafi was reported as saying that such an amendment would ensure “nobody dares to use religion to settle personal scores”. However, Maulana Sherani in his press conference today said that the existing blasphemy laws should not be amended and that the Pakistan Penal Code already had sections which dealt with sentences for those who misused any law of the land. He said that the judge in such cases could resort to those relevant sections to award sentences. Sherani also said the council had unanimously decided that no member shall comment on any decision of the council's meeting unless the matter was elaborated and explained in a press release or press briefing by the body. Replying to a question, he stated that every institution played its own role and the Islamic Ideology Council was performing its job as guiding body and the powers to implement those recommendations did not rest with it.