LAHORE: What is being described as a landmark judgment, the Lahore High Court on Thursday ordered the Punjab government to establish special units in all districts in the province to investigate rape cases.
In a nine-page verdict issued on Thursday, LHC judge Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh directed the Punjab government to constitute special units in all the districts to impart training to the police officers for the investigation of rape cases.
The jugement was issued upon completion of hearing on a petition filed by a female rape victim.
The victim woman had challenged the police’s action to change the provisions of rape with Zina in the FIR.
In his judgment, the Justice regretted in many cases the accused have escaped punishment due to faulty investigation.
During the case hearing, the court was told that no special units under the Anti-Rape Act were established in many districts. If this is the case, then the government must establish special units and impart training to the police officers.
The LHC ruling further directed that it is mandatory to include a woman police officer in the special unit because the female victim would feel comfortable in the presence of a woman police officer during the rape investigation.
In cases involving children, the inclusion of a female police officer becomes even more important.
A thorough investigation must be made in the rape and sexual assault cases on the pattern of criminal cases. The case becomes weak if medical tests or DNA samples are not sent to the laboratory on time and the accused gets the benefit of the weak case, the judgment reads.
During the hearing, the Sialkot DPO informed the court that a special unit completed its investigation into the aforesaid rape case under Section 9 of the Anti-Rape Act.
After that, the court disposed of the case.
