NA body recommends to establish SIP units at district level, ban open exhibition of weapons

ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Standing committee on Human Rights on Thursday recommended to establish Special Investigation Persons (SIP) units at district level for speeding justice on crimes particularly against women and children.

Each committee consists of at least 8 to10 members including highly qualified police officials, psychologist, human rights defenders and representatives of civil society who should be well equipped with latest technologies, modern investigation methodologies and sensitized people who not only arrest culprits at the earliest but help the victims to come out of the trauma.

The committee also recommended to send letters to Prime Minister and Chief Ministers of all the provinces besides FATA, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir to ban open exhibition of weapons especially security guards in plain clothes behinds the vehicles of VIPs.

The committee also directed that a letter would be issued to Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif that according to the recommendation of physicians, minor girl Kianat should be immediately shifted to abroad for proper medical treatment.

The committee which met here under the chairmanship of MNA Babar Nawaz Khan, was briefed that the Information Technology department of Punjab is working on developing an alert system for child sexual abuse cases and Curriculum Reform Committee has been asked to make changes in the curriculum to educate children on how to protect themselves in such situation.

A helpline 1121 has also been established for reporting child abuse cases, officials of Punjab government said adding, a legal reform committee is formed to identify gaps in the current legislation.

The Committee members also criticized Kasur administration for opening up Child Protection Center in the Assistant Commissioner’s Office.

The committee was informed that the forensic report of minor girl Asma was received and on the basis of it they have started further investigation. A detailed report on progress of this case would be presented in three to four day, senior officials of KP police department informed.

They further apprised that the Government of Khaber Pakhunkhwa would establish its own Forensic lab with all the required facilities including DNA test for speeding investigation of assault cases.

The Committee members also expressed their serious concerns on the performance of National Commission on Human Rights (NCHR). The committee members pointed out that the commission has not submitted a single annual progress report yet despite passing three years as mandatory under law.

They also recommended the commission to hold meetings with Provincial Commissions on Human Rights after every three months.

The Committee was also apprised by the progress in Naqeebullah’s case. Officials of Sindh government informed the Committee members that six accused police officials have been arrested and booked under Anti Terrorism Act. They said that investigation is under progress and would be finalized on merit.