LAHORE: The Punjab Police in its efforts of strengthening the investigation of sexual offences, has formulated a formal procedure for accessing the “National Sex Offenders Register” (SOR) maintained by the National Police Bureau (NPB) in Islamabad.
According to documents, a directive issued by the Punjab additional inspector general (investigation) has outlined specific steps to retrieve the criminal history of suspects involved in sexual crimes. The directive has been dispatched to all capital city police officers (CCPOs), regional police officers (RPOs), city police officers (CPOs) and district police officers (DPOs) across the province.
The SOR has been operational at the NPB since January 2024 and holds nationwide data on convicted sex offenders, including their criminal histories, biometric forensic records, and last known addresses.
This centralised database is expected to significantly enhance the investigation and prosecution of sexual harassment and assault cases by helping law enforcement officials identify repeat offenders and gather background intelligence swiftly.
Under the guidelines set forth in compliance with the National Sex Offenders Register Rules, 2023, and the SOPs issued on August 22, 2024, investigating officers (IOs) are now required to formally request the prior records of named suspects in sexual crime FIRs—those falling under the Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trial) Act, 2021. The request must include a copy of the FIR and a completed application form (Annexure A), which will be submitted to the District Public Prosecutor (DPP). A copy must also be sent to the DPO concerned.
The protocol strictly prohibits the seeking of criminal records for individuals unrelated to the case under investigation. Upon receipt, the DPP is tasked with verifying the documents and ensuring the relevance of the request.
If the application is deemed satisfactory, the DPP must forward it to the NPB within 48 hours.
If documentation is incomplete or the rationale is unsubstantiated, the DPP is directed to return the request and seek clarification from the investigating officer.
Once approved, the NPB will transmit the requested information back to the DPP, who will then forward it to the investigating officer, accompanied by a clear advisory stating that the data is to be used exclusively for investigative purposes. Unauthorised use or disclosure of the information will lead to disciplinary action under the relevant departmental rules.
The applicable legal provisions under which data can be requested include Sections 375, 375A, 376, 377, 377A, 377B, 371A, 371B, 292A, 292B, 292C of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), along with Sections 21 and 22 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca), 2016.
Legal experts have welcomed the initiative. Advocate Syed Hasan Raza Shah, a criminal law specialist at the Lahore High Court, termed the digitisation of sex offenders’ data a crucial development in combating crime.
“Creating a computerised archive of mentally unstable individuals and serial offenders involved in violent sexual assaults, particularly against women, has become imperative in light of the alarming increase in such cases,” he said.
Raza further noted that Punjab Police had already taken progressive steps by assigning female officers to handle cases of sexual violence, acknowledging the discomfort and hesitancy many victims experience when required to recount traumatic details to male investigators.
This measure, he argued, has helped build a more empathetic and responsive policing environment for victims.
Sources within the police department also indicated that in cases involving serial sex offenders, psychological evaluations will be conducted using the services of mental health professionals to assess the mental condition of the accused.
These steps aim to reinforce the investigative capacity of the police while ensuring due process and adherence to ethical standards.
The establishment of this procedure reflects a broader institutional shift toward evidence-based policing and the use of digital databases to combat recurring criminal threats, with particular emphasis on crimes that leave lasting psychological trauma on victims and communities.