IHC directs ASPs to investigate child abuse cases

IGP suspends investigation officer in Bhara Kahu madrasa rape case, issues new investigation SOP

ISLAMABAD: Child abuses cases will now be investigated by an officer who at least has a rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) or above, while the Islamabad Police on Thursday issued a new set of guidelines to probe such cases.

This was directed by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) as it pronounced its verdict in a bail petition filed  by the suspect in the Bara Kahu seminary child abuse case.

“Rape and molestation cases against children will not be investigated by an officer with a rank lower than Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP),” ruled IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah.

He further instructed the Islamabad Inspector General of Police Aamir Zulfikar Khan and Islamabad Chief Commissioner Aamer Ali Ahmed to formulate a special strategy and mechanism to bring an end to such incidents.

The guidelines further included the formation of a medical board to examine suspects nominated in such cases. It has been further directed if a bail plea is filed in the case, the suspect’s criminal record should also be included so that the court can determine the odds of whether the crime could be repeated if bail is granted.

The verdict came a day after IHC Chief Justice Minallah had rejected the bail plea of the suspect in the case, Zeeshan, and charged with molesting a child at a seminary in Bara Kahu.

Islamabad Operations-DIG Waqaruddin Syed had informed the court that the suspect had been booked for assaulting a boy in the madrassa.

CJ Minallah, however, remarked that the state is careless about incidents involving children and asked what would become of a society that could not protect its children, adding that such incidents are increasing.

He said that according to first information report (FIR) the victim’s father told the madrassa, Qari, about the entire incident but he took no action.

“When we asked the investigation officer about the investigation progress, he suggested we ask the applicant,” the court noted, adding that that the investigation officer had no idea about anything. “How will things change?”

New SOP

In light of the court’s verdict, Islamabad IGP Aamir on Thursday suspended Investigation Officer (IO) ASI Tanvir in the Bhara Kahu madrassa child abuse case.

Moreover, the Bhara Kahu SHO was also served a show-cause notice for improper investigation in the case along with dissenting notices to City SP Amir Khan Niyazi.

IG Aamir directed the police department to issue a new set of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for investigating sexual abuse cases involving children.

Henceforth, it was directed that Operations DIG Waqaruddin Syed will oversee the investigation of all such cases.

Syed has been further instructed to conduct a departmental inquiry against all officials involved in the case for their poor performance and negligence. He formed a special investigation team TO probe the case.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 22^nd, 2019.