ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly's Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics on Tuesday partially approved a draft law aimed at increasing the protection afforded to rape victims in Pakistan.

The draft law named as ‘Criminal Law Amendment Bill 2014’ was moved by MNA Shaista Pervez Malik of the PML-N, who is a member of the committee.

“Rape is a physical and psychological attack on the dignity of women,” said Malik.

She added that current laws do not provide any protection to the victim therefore an amendment is being introduced.

After detailed discussions, the committee partially endorsed the amendments proposed in the bill with minor changes. However, the committee directed the ministry to present the bill again in the next meeting for final approval.

Read: Senate passes bills against rape, honour killing

The members of the committee also lauded the work done by MNA Malik.

Earlier in March, the Senate passed four bills including anti-honour killings and anti-rape laws.

The Senate passed Anti-Rape Laws (Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill, 2014, and Anti-Honour Killings Laws (Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill, 2014, moved by Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Senator Syeda Sughra Imam.

An earlier version of the story had erroneously reported that a bill for an increase in the sentence of rapists has been approved, the error is regretted.