PESHAWAR: The newly established Child Protection Court in Mohmand tribal district has received encouraging response from the community, a senior lawyer told Arab News on Wednesday, adding that three cases were filed only a day after its inauguration on August 8.
“The people of the tribal areas remained deprived of a proper judicial system for decades,” Raza Khan Sufi, general secretary of the Mohmand Bar Association, said while making a reference to the colonial-era laws that were used in the tribal territories until their recent mainstreaming by the Pakistani authorities. “Little attention was also paid to protect children from violence and abuse. It is important to set up similar courts in other tribal districts as well.”
Mohmand’s Child Protection Court was established in the beginning of this month following the provincial cabinet’s approval last year to provide speedy justice under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Child Protection and Welfare Act, 2010, and Juvenile Justice System Act, 2018.
Zubair Hussain, a protocol officer at the Peshawar High Court (PHC), said similar legal infrastructure would soon be set up in other tribal districts as well.
“Three criminal cases involving children were brought to the court on the next day of its inauguration,” President Mohmand Bar Association Gul Rehman said, adding that the facility would ensure the welfare of children while dealing with issues like legal custody of neglected and destitute children.
Habib-ur-Rehman, a tribal elder, told Arab News that one of his close neighbors, Jan Saeed, was imprisoned for kidnapping and selling his (Rehman’s) three-year-old nephew.
“He confessed to the crime and said that he had sold my nephew for Rs 250,000. However, we could not find him anywhere. My case will now be taken up by the Child Protection Court, hopefully on a priority basis,” he said.
Huma Khan, monitoring and evaluation coordinator at the Acid Survivors Foundation, told Arab News that the establishment of the court would reduce overcrowding in prison and avoid secondary victimization of children during investigation, trial, and post-trial phases.
“It is likely to contribute to improved rule of law and increased public trust in the judicial and state institutions, fostering greater sense of security, social cohesion and better governance,” she added.
During the inauguration of the court, PHC Registrar Khawaja Wajihuddin told the media that similar courts had already been established in Peshawar, Mardan and Abbottabad.
The three courts, he added, had disposed of 1,140 cases since becoming functional.
“The Child Protection Court can minimize the scale of crime against children if speedy justice is delivered,” said the general secretary of the Mohmand Bar Association. “The facility has a good environment which will not be too burdensome for children.”
Mohmand's new child protection court begins to receive cases
https://arab.news/jz5mq
Mohmand's new child protection court begins to receive cases
- The country’s tribal areas did not have a proper judicial system until recently and were governed under colonial-era laws
- Experts say the new court will help avoid secondary victimization of children during investigation, trial, and post-trial phases
Pakistan PM calls for faster CPEC implementation, pledges security for Chinese workers
- Shehbaz Sharif pushes expanded cooperation in agriculture, IT and mining under CPEC phase two
- Chinese envoy reaffirms Beijing’s support for Pakistan’s sovereignty and economic development
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday called for speeding up projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and pledged stronger security guarantees for Chinese workers and investments, during a meeting with China’s ambassador in Islamabad.
Sharif made the remarks as the two countries strive to launch the second phase of CPEC, a multibillion-dollar infrastructure and energy initiative launched in 2015 as part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
CPEC’s first phase focused largely on power generation and transport infrastructure aimed at easing Pakistan’s chronic energy shortages and improving connectivity. The second phase seeks to expand cooperation into industrial development, with an emphasis on special economic zones and export-oriented growth.
“While highlighting the importance of accelerating ongoing CPEC projects, the Prime Minister stressed on the need to enhance cooperation in agriculture and IT and mining & minerals,” said a statement circulated by the PM Office after the meeting.
“He also underscored Pakistan’s resolve to provide a secure and conducive environment for Chinese personnel, investments, and institutions in Pakistan,” it added.
Chinese nationals and projects in Pakistan have faced security threats in the past, including attacks by militant groups targeting infrastructure sites and convoys. Islamabad has repeatedly vowed to tighten security and has deployed special protection units for Chinese workers.
China is Pakistan’s closest ally in the region and a key economic partner, with CPEC widely regarded by Islamabad as central to long-term economic growth.
During the meeting, the prime minister conveyed greetings to Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, particularly on the occasion of the Chinese New Year.
China’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong, reiterated Beijing’s support for Pakistan’s sovereignty and socioeconomic development, according to the statement. Both sides also exchanged views on regional and international issues and agreed to maintain close coordination.
