ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Ministry of Law and Justice has notified Special Courts for trials of Rape Cases & Sexual Offences.
“In pursuance of the powers conferred by sub-section (3) of section 3 of the Anti-Rape (Investigation & Trial) Ordinance, 2020, the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, in consultation with the Hon’ble Chief Justice of Pakistan has been pleased to designate all Courts of Session Judges throughout Pakistan as Special Court under the Ordinance,” stated the notification issued by the Ministry of Law and Justice on Friday.
Alhumdulillah! In accordance with vision of PM Imran Khan and leadership of Minister for Law & Justice, Dr. Barrister Muhammad Farogh Naseem, the Ministry of Law and Justice has notified special courts for trials of rape cases & sexual offences. pic.twitter.com/0DEIo3gt4e
— Maleeka Bokhari (@MalBokhari) May 7, 2021
Meanwhile, in order to expedite implementation of the Anti-Rape Ordinance throughout Pakistan, a meeting was held under the Chairpersonship of Parliamentary Secretary for Law and Justice Barrister Maleeka Bokhari to discuss the requirements of Anti-Rape Crisis Cells, issues related to medico-legal evidence and the capacity building of medico-legal officers and staff at the Law Ministry in Islamabad.
The experts from the Federal and Provincial Health Departments, Forensic Labs, and Doctors who are members of the Anti-Rape Committee headed by the Parliamentary Secretary, participated in the meeting to discuss the way forward.
Barrister Maleeka Bokhari told the participants that the work would continue at a fast pace in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) and all the Provincial Capitals to set up anti-rape crisis cells that would act as models for the District Headquarter Hospitals in the provinces.
The Parliamentary Secretary stressed the need for coordination between the Forensic Science Labs and the Medico-legal Officers for the gathering of evidence in an effective manner.
Medical experts pointed out the areas that are lacking and need for infrastructure, human resource and logistics for setting up of the Crisis Cells. Barrister Maleeka Bukhari assured the members of the Committee of her full support in this regard.
Maleeka Bukhari told the participants, she would contact provincial Health Ministers to help with issues that were raised during the meeting.
The Parliamentary Secretary for Law and Justice said that she has already visited Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to help deal with issues on the ground and plans to visit other provinces after Eid.
