NCHR to be party in Zainab case: Chairman

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ISLAMABAD: National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) Chairman Justice (R) Ali Nawaz Chowhan on Monday said that the NCHR would become a party in the kidnapping and murder case of Zainab reported from Kasur.

Addressing a press conference, Ali Nawaz Chowhan said that the commission sent a fact-finding delegation to Kasur to dig out facts regarding the rapid and massive increase in child abuse cases in the district. The delegation will also prepare a report based on these facts.

He informed the media that the report found out that the police had completely neglected the case and urged for the law enforcement agency’s accountability as the first step to counter similar incidents. Chowhan further stressed on the need for establishing a preventive mechanism for securing children from all kinds of abuse and added that the Punjab Commission on the Status of Women will play an active role to find the culprits behind the heinous crime.

The chairman said that every child is the state’s responsibility but the Child Protection Bureau’s progress was hopeless as when they were contacted, bureau officials said that their mandate is limited to street children.

Chowhan sought that the state bear DNA test expenses; as the collection of evidence is the responsibility of an investigation agency. He said that it is shameful that families of victims are asked to pay the price.

“According to our findings, the police has demanded Rs 10,000 from Zainab’s family for recovering her body,” he informed and stated that this act is highly condemnable.

“In addition, our team found out that around 12 cases were reported from the same district within the last six months. The facts demand the accountability of investigations made in these cases,” he said.

“When our team inquired about the details of the cases before this one, it was quite surprising that no DNA test was found in those cases. Moreover, there was a lack of coordination among the police departments working on the case,” he added.

He concluded by saying that the commission also condemns Naqeeb Ullah’s murder in Karachi and the death of two people who died in the Kasur protest for just raising their voice for their rights.