A Karachi MPA, Mr Najmuddin Valika, wanted to move a non-official bill for death sentence for child-kidnappers, but he withdrew it on the assurance that an official bill on the subject was being moved at the forthcoming session.

The high-level Police conference held in Lahore late last year had also recommended death sentence for child-kidnappers in view of an increase in incidents in the province.

As the Provincial Government is not competent to enforce the death punishment, it would make a recommendation to the Central Government to amend the Pakistan Penal Code, which at present provides for a minimum punishment of seven years of rigorous imprisonment under Section 363 PPU, and also a fine.

During Martial Law, kidnapping was made punishable by death, but not a single person found guilty of this heinous crime was sent to the gallows. A few persons were awarded the death sentence but their terms were commuted to life imprisonment.

Experts consider that the increase in the incidence of child-kidnapping was mainly due to mild punishment.

According to official figures, 8,032 children were kidnapped in West Pakistan during 1947-61 while many more were reported “missing”. Of them, 2,515 were girls and 517 boys.—Staff Correspondent

Communal riot in Indian town NEW DELHI: A communal riot broke out in Anantapur district of Hyderabad yesterday (Feb 15) night, according or reports received here this morning.

Police fired 24 blank shots to disperse a crowd which was attempting to “loot property of a community” at Hindupur where riots began.

A report circulated by Press Trust of India today said the riot broke out “when a stone was thrown at a religious procession”. Men in the procession then attacked houses “in retaliation”, it added.—Correspondent