CGSS Delegation Meeting with Senator Rehman Malik - Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Interior

On 21st January 2020, a delegation led by Major General Syed Khalid Amir Jaffery HI(M), (Retd) – President CGSS met Senator Rehman Malik - Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Interior Senator. The meeting was regarding Child Sexual Abuse Bill and Zainab Alert Bill. The participants of the meeting discussed that the bill already present in the Senate is an advisory bill and there is nothing workable or applicable present in the bill. There is no certainty of the punishment which is why the number of the child abuse cases is on the rise. The suggested punishment for such cases is open hanging but it is opposed by various NGOs and faces a lot of deterrence in the country. The exact figure of the child abuse cases is not mentioned due to the stigma attached to the topic and the defects present in the judicial system.
The participants suggested to keep track of the convicts to help monitor the activities. Furthermore, it was suggested that the law formulated must not be influenced by western laws due to the difference of culture and societies. For child abuse cases, separate courts must be established which must be established at the district level which will make them easy to access. For child abuse cases, female officers and clinical psychologists must be hired to deal with the victims. Awareness program regarding child abuse must be launched in all the schools (Public and Private Sector) throughout the country.
Moreover, an annual test of students must also be made compulsory.
Other participants of the meeting included:
• Barrister Babur Suhail – Vice President, CGSS
• Mr. Ashfaq Ahmed Gondal – Former Federal Secretary of Information and Senior Member Advisory Board CGSS
• Mr. Masud Malik – Member Advisory Board CGSS
• Lieutenant Colonel Khalid Taimur Akram (Retd) – Executive Director CGSS
• Major Iqbal Aslam (Retd) – Manager Coordination, CGSS