LAHORE: The Supreme Court of the Superior Court of Lahore, Aalia Neelum, deplored on Monday that no effective measures have been taken to maintain the identity of the confidential victims in cases of sexual assault and emphasized that protecting them was of the utmost importance.
He noted that the preservation of evidence was crucial, and video/audio recordings and other evidence must be legally secured under the Qanun-Shahadat (the Law of Evidence).
The president of the Supreme Court directed a complete bank seized with an issue related to the implementation of the Law against Vieta 2021. Judge Farooq Haider and Judge Ali Zia Bajwa were the other members of the bank.
Punjab Attorney General Syed Farhad Ali Shah, the interim general defender of Punjab Baleeghur Rehman Chaudhry and Police General Inspector, Dr. Usman Anwar appeared before the bank.
The general defender presented a report on the implementation of the law, pointing out that it was a federal law with certain gaps.
Given this, the president of the Supreme Court Neelum commented: “This is like putting the Court and the Nation in a wild goose persecution.”
When she asked why the attorney general was absent, an deputy attorney general explained that the main right officer was occupied with commitments in Islamabad.
The bank observed that it was a very significant issue and that the presence of the attorney general was necessary.
The bank also commented that the problem refers to the entire nation, not just an individual.
He regretted that the law against violation was promulgated in 2021, but serious deficiencies remain in its implementation.
The PPE stated that there had been 5,000 cases of kidnapping and 7,000 ‘honor murders’ of women.
He said that police officers visit crime scenes and compile reports, while special officers are being recruited and trained to improve investigation. However, some measures required the approval of the cabinet, he added.
The bank postponed the hearing for a date to be set later by the office and sought the personal appearance of the Attorney General.
Posted in Dawn, February 18, 2025
