The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday again summoned the Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan on April 14 in a case pertaining to the implementation of the Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trial) Act 2021.
The Anti-Rape Act 2021 seeked to establish special courts and use of modern devices during the investigation and trial of rape cases. The special committee can also issue appropriate directives from time to time to Nadra to prepare a register of sex offenders, the details of which will only be provided to a court of law or a law enforcement agency.
The proceedings were heard by a three-member bench headed by LHC Chief Justice Aalia Neelum. Justice Farooq Haider and Justice Ali Zia Bajwa were the other members of the bench.
Additional Attorney General (AAG) Mirza Nasr Ahmed, Punjab Prosecutor General Syed Farhad Ali Shah and Advocate General of Punjab Amjad Parvez appeared before the bench. However, AGP Awan failed to appear before the court for the second time.
In the previous proceeding of the case, Justice Neelum deplored that no effective measures had been taken to keep the victims’ identity confidential in sexual assault cases and stressed that protecting them was of utmost importance.
She had observed that the preservation of evidence was crucial, and video/audio recordings and other evidence must be legally secured under the Qanun-i-Shahadat (the law of evidence).
accused Salman Tahir.
“The woman who accused of alleged rape did not undergo medical treatment under the Anti-Rape Act,” the petitioner pleaded.
The petitioner asked the court to grant the bail application of the accused.
