Ministry forms special committee for anti-rape law enforcement

Body empowered to obtain information from federal, provincial officers

ISLAMABAD:

The Ministry of Law and Justice on Tuesday issued a notification to form a special committee for effective enforcement of the Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trial) Act, 2021.

Notification was issued by using the powers conferred by sub-section 1 of section 15 of the Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trial) Act 2021 (Ordinance No. XVI) 2020. The special committee will be chaired by Parliamentary Secretary for Law and Justice Barrister Maleeha Ali Bukhari.

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The notification stated that the special committee would take all necessary steps, including access to any federal or provincial ministry, division, department, office, agency, or authority, for the purpose of effective enforcement of the Anti-Rape Act.

It would be empowered to obtain information from the officers of the federal or provincial ministries, Divisions, Departments, Offices, Agencies or Authorities for the purposes of effective compliance with the act.

The committee could also refer the matter to a competent authority against the person who disregard the instructions and refused to comply with the instructions issued by the committee.