Karachi: Despite the presence of strict laws against sexual harassment and the exploitation of children and women, weaknesses in investigation and prosecution continue to allow criminals to escape punishment, contributing to an increase in cases of child abuse.
Recent incidents, including the case of Qayyumabad that involves indecent videos of minors, have amplified fears between parents and children.
Legal experts warn that, although Pakistan has hardened laws in this domain, convictions remain weird due to bad investigations and fragile prosecution. The outdated investigation methods and the lack of modern forensic support mean that serious digital crimes, such as recording and the load of obscene content to the dark network, have often not proven in court.
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The senior lawyer of the Supreme Court, Hassan knows, said that the case of Qayyumabad underlines the criticisms in the system. “The tragedy is that the police still investigate with conventional methods, while digital crimes require advanced technology and forensic experience. This weakness benefits the accused and denies justice to the victims,” he said. He stressed that such crimes should carry additional terrorism sections due to their serious psychological impact on society.
Sabir pointed out that Pakistan only has a handful of experts in digital and forensic crimes trained, and requested the establishment of forensic laboratories dedicated in each district, with qualified personnel. He also urged rapid trials in cases of child abuse so that criminals become “an example for others.”
Criticizing judicial management, he said that courts often delay action under the pretext of incomplete investigations, despite the fact that the law allows them to transfer cases or add relevant sections when necessary.
