Only ASP rank officer will probe child abuse cases: IHC

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday ordered only the Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) rank officer would conduct investigation of cases related to child abuse and molestation.

Chief Justice Islamabad High Court Justice Athar Minallah issued the written order in the case of molestation of a teenage boy in Barakahu Madrassa by an accused Zeeshan.

The court order stated that a medical board was supposed to be established for analysis in such cases. The IHC ordered only Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) rank officer would conduct investigation of child abuse and molestation cases. “In such cases, the crime record of the accused should also be made part of the cases if a bail plea was filed in such cases,” the order said and added that the bail petitions should be decided keeping in view the criminal record of the accused.

The Chief Justice IHC also issued a directive to the district administration and IGP to introduce a mechanism to deal with such cases. In the last hearing, the IHC has dismissed the bail plea of accused Zeshan who is allegedly involved in molestation of a teenage boy in Barakahu Madrisa.

Earlier, DIG Islamabad Waqaruddin Syed told the high court that police had arrested cleric of Madrassa and added sections of 328 and 328A in First Information Report (FIR). “The investigation of the case had been shifted to SP investigation,” he added.