[6] The use of technology such as video links will also be permitted under the new law to record the statements of the victim and witnesses so that they won't have to face any humiliation or risk entailed by court appearances.
The Hudood Ordinances, enacted by military ruler Zia ul-Haq in 1979, criminalise adultery and non-marital consensual sex.
The Bill removes the right of police to detain people suspected of having sex outside of marriage, instead requiring a formal accusation in court.
Under the changes, adultery and non-marital consensual sex is still an offence but now judges would be allowed to try rape cases with Pakistani Penal code.
[16] The amendments change the punishment for someone convicted of having consensual sex outside marriage to imprisonment of up to five years and a fine of Rs 10,000.
Under the Hudood Ordinance, women were routinely jailed for adultery on flimsy evidence, often when a former husband refused to recognise a divorce.
"[21] Ayman al-Zawahiri of al-Qaeda warned Pakistanis in a video released in April 2006 that the bill was an attempts to erode Pakistan's adultery law and part of a "Crusader" plot to portray Islam as a religion of "enlightened moderation".
[7] Sabotaging or disrupting the work of a police officer or Government official could result in imprisonment of 1 year under the new law.
[24] According to the new law, anyone who rapes a minor or a mentally or physically disabled person will be liable for the death penalty or life imprisonment.
[6] The new law also declares that trials for offences such as rape and related crimes shall be conducted in-camera and also allows for the use of technology such as video links to record statements of the victim and witnesses, to spare them the humiliation or risk entailed by court appearances.
However, if the trial is not completed within three months then the case shall be brought to the notice of the Chief Justice of the High Court for appropriate directions.
[6] UN Women Executive Director, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, hailed the Government of Pakistan's decision to pass the anti-rape and anti-honour killing bills.