The Senate's Standing Committee on Human Rights on Monday approved changes to the Zainab Alert Bill. After the law is passed, it will be applicable across Pakistan.
Earlier an amendment was made expanding the jurisdiction of the proposed law nationwide, previously covering the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) alone. The Zainab Alert Bill, which addresses sexual crimes against children and proposes sentences for such offences, was passed by the National Assembly in January this year but was blocked in the Upper House after Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Mushahidullah Khan insisted that the bill be sent to the Senate committee first.
However, the committee recommended some amendments, proposing special courts for rape and abduction cases. According to the bill, police officers who refuse to file FIRs will be prosecuted. Special judges will hear cases of child abuse. It will introduce a response and recovery mechanism for missing children. It was first presented on October 8, 2019.
An agency will be set up under this bill that will closely work with the 1099 helpline and other help lines in several districts. When a complaint is made through these help lines, it should be immediately transferred to the agency, so an investigation can begin immediately. Zainab Alert has been named after seven-year-old, Zainab Ansari, who was raped and murdered in Kasur. Her case sparked national outrage and a conversation about child abuse.
The agency will operate out of Islamabad and engage the social media, the PTA, and other institutions to create a helpline and SMS service to spread information about missing children.
Special teams called, MCRRTs will be set up and headed by a senior police officer. These teams will work with the local police in the cases of missing children. The bill has proposed death sentence, life imprisonment or rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to 14 years for people who abduct children.
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