PESHAWAR: Chief Justice of Peshawar High Court (PHC), Waqar Ahmad Seth on Saturday inaugurated the first-ever Child Protection Court in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at Judicial Complex Peshawar.
The Child Protection Court has been established under Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Child Protection and Welfare Act, 2010 and Juvenile Justice System Act, 2018, which will handle issues related to child protection and welfare cases particularly legal custody of destitute and neglected children, reunification of destitute and neglected children with their families, trial of cases registered under the Child Protection and Welfare Act, welfare of children, trial of cases involving where children are victim, witness and offender and protection of movable and immovable properties of orphans, neglected and children at risk.
Khawaja Wajihud-Din, Registrar Peshawar High Court, addressing the inauguration ceremony, said that primary role of Child Protection Court was to ensure the protection of children from maltreatment, violence, exploitation, abuse and neglect.
He said that protecting vulnerable children from mental and physical abuse and mistreatment was the collective responsibility of every segment of the society and stressed the need for proactive child protection policy to provide a safe environment.
He informed that in the first phase Additional District and Sessions Judge, Wadeeya Mushtaq Malik has been appointed as presiding officer of the Child Protection Court at Peshawar, adding that PHC has successfully arranged a training session at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Judicial Academy for the Judicial Officers and representatives of all stakeholders involved in the child protection and welfare.
In the second phase, the Child Protection Court would be extended to Divisional Headquarters followed by setting up these courts at every district across the province.
Total 62 cases have been filed child protection court.
He said that the provincial government had already been approached about the financial implication and provision of basic facilities in these courts. Vision envisaged by the legislator while framing the KP Child Protection and Welfare Act, as well as Juvenile Justice System Act, was to protect the rights of children which will be implemented by the Child Court, hence the credit for that goes to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government.
Peshawar High Court will appreciate if now practical steps are taken in that direction by extending the establishment of Child Protection Court in all the districts of the Province.
Khawaja Wajihud-Din highlighted the importance of sensitizing society about rights and providing a congenial atmosphere to children in the light of Islamic teachings and the Constitution of Pakistan.
He said proceedings and atmosphere of child courts will be totally different as arrangements have been made in two separate rooms equipped with toys and books and colourful paintings on walls to acclimatize them with court environment. Counselling will also be given to those children appearing in courts.