City police ordered to set up human rights desks in all districts

Karachi
AIG Karachi Ghulam Qadir Thebo has issued notifications to all zonal DIGs and SSPs to set up a human rights desk in each district of the city.
The city police chief while talking to The News said his office was receiving complaints pertaining to incidents of domestic and child abuse, and it was also reported that the cases were not being entertained at police stations. He said even if an FIR was lodged in this regard, the investigation was not followed through properly.
Subsequently, said Thebo, he held meetings with various stakeholders and representatives of human rights organisations and after deliberations it was finally decided to form human rights desks in each district of Karachi division.
The human rights desk will investigate complaints of violence against women and children, rape/gang rape, forced marriages and violations by the police.
He said letters with the relevant orders had been issued to all DIGs of South, East and West Ranges of Karachi and copies were also dispatched to all district SSPs. He said the officials have been instructed to take up the matter on priority basis.
According to Thebo, the desk will comprise a lady DSP or an inspector who will oversee of violence against women and children, a male DSP who will manage complaints against the police, male and female investigators, besides a legal adviser.
The city police chief emphasised that the human rights desk will not inquire into anonymous or pseudonymous complaints. However, he said, registered criminal cases may be marked as human rights violations.
He said the desks will not conduct the investigations of assigned cases but will refer them for inquiry and monitor their progress. However, when presented with a case, the desk would have the discretion to see if a human right violation had occurred or not.
Thebo said the human rights desk will provide clear recommendations for concrete legal action against suspects and will also suggest remedial measures if warranted. The desk will also issue standard operating procedures for investigating certain types of criminal cases in order to reduce violations.
Moreover, he said, the desk will also publish resource material for vulnerable sections of the society and the public about reporting human rights abuses to the police.