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Flaws in medico-legal services shared at seminar

By Bureau report
May 16, 2016

PESHAWAR: A civil society organisation, Noor Education Trust (NET), has shared with the participants of a seminar the findings of a study in an effort to pinpoint the flaws in the medico-legal services focusing on forensic work, role of medical staff, police and legal system in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The sharing was done at the “Research study seminar”. It was arranged in collaboration with the Provincial Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW) to disseminate the medico-legal research findings.

Officials from government departments and non-governmental organisations attended the event. Head of the organisation, Zubaida Noor, introduced the NET and basis of medico-legal study.

She said the need for medico-legal evidence was more obvious and important in cases of domestic violence, rape and sexual assault where the process of justice was totally dependent on the medico-legal record.

Sabahat Mushtaq, a legal associate at the NET, shared with participants the findings of the research study along with the recommendations. She said the medical evidence was often an essential element in the investigation and prosecution process of violence.

The legal associate said the NET was involved with the process of establishing a referral mechanism with other stakeholders directly and indirectly to facilitate the process of medico-legal services provided by government-run facilities as per the requirement of survivors.

PCSW Chairperson Neelum Toru appreciated the NET efforts and the seriousness of the organization towards medico-legal issues.