Sindh passes law to set up special child courts
The Sindh Assembly on Friday passed the Sindh Child Protection Authority (Amendment) Act 2021 under which the provincial government will, in consultation with the Sindh High Court will specify an existing court of a civil or assistant sessions judge in each district to be a Special Court for Child Protection to try offences under the Sindh Child Protection Authority Act. On establishment of these courts, all cases involving minors pending in any court will be be transferred to the Special Court for trial and will be decided withing 120 days.
The law also defines abusive acts of physical, psychological and sexual nature against children, as well as economic and sexual exploitation including underage marriages, trafficking, prostitution, domestic and commercial child labour, corporal punishment, maltreatment and injury.
Under the law, the Chair of the Sindh Child Protection Authority is empowered to take suo motu cognizance of incidents of child abuse. Police and other law enforcement agencies are directed to lodge an FIR in cases involving missing or abducted children within four hours of the reported incident occurring and failure to do so will be met with punitive action.
Woman shot dead by invaders in S. Waziristan
Police have launched an investigation into the murder of a woman by home invaders in Sararogha, South Waziristan.
Locals complained that burglary is increasing in the area and further accused the police of being involved in these incidents. They provided that they had surrendered all their weapons during Operation Rah-e-Nijat, yet somehow armed groups have appeared that are abusing residents. Locals implored the government to allow carrying licensed arms for self-defence.
Minor boy kidnapped, murdered in Kahna
The body of an eight-year-old was recovered from a pond eight days after he had gone missing in Kahna Baduki village in Lahore.
The deceased’s father claimed that his son had gone for his Friday prayers that day but never returned. The complainant further stated that he had lodged a missing complaint at the Kahna police station but the police did not bother to search for the boy. He alleged his son would be alive today if the police had performed their duty, and appealed to the Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar for speedy justice.
Police state the cause of death will be determined when the autopsy report is received.
