Pakistan’s lower house of parliament has approved a Bill to amend the country’s strict laws on rape and adultery, in the face of widespread opposition from religious leaders who say that the change will promote "free sex".

Under existing legislation, victims of rape are required to produce four male witnesses to the crime, making a trial of the alleged rapist almost impossible because such attacks rarely happen in public. Without the witnesses, victims are liable to face prosecution for adultery.

Today’s amendment removes that obligation, enabling cases to be tried under the civil penal code on the basis of forensic and circumstantial evidence, rather than the strict Islamic laws which currently deal with rape and adultery.

The Women’s Protection Bill also reduces the punishment for people convicted of having consensual sex outside marriage, dropping the death penalty and flogging so that the crime will now be punishable by five years in jail or a 10,000-rupee (£87) fine.

The Bill will now be sent to the upper house of parliament, where reports predict it will most likely become law.

The Bill is seen as a key indicator of President Musharraf’s commitment to his proclaimed vision of "enlightened moderation" and is a marker in the long-standing battle between progressive forces and religious conservatives to set the Muslim nation’s course.

Today’s move, hailed as a "historic" moment by Shaukat Azia, the Prime Minister, has triggered dramatic and mixed reaction, with religious hardliners walking out of parliament and boycotting the vote.

Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman, leader of the opposition and head of the country’s biggest alliance of religious parties, told the assembly the changes would encourage promiscuity.

"This is an attempt to create a free sex zone in Pakistan," he said. "Existing laws are correct and should be maintained…The changes are not in line with Islamic teaching.

"It will distort the image of Pakistani women internationally."

But Mr Aziz insisted that it did not go against Pakistan’s religious affiliations.

"Nothing is against Islam in this bill," he said, adding that the amendments were made in consultation with Islamic scholars, lawmakers and human rights activists.

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