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In gender based cases psychologist, legal and medical aid will be provided under one roof

Lahore, July 15, 2019 (PPI-OT): Inspector General Police Punjab Captain (R) Arif Nawaz Khan directed to prepare a feasibility report for establishing special units to control gender based crimes in province, these units will provide effected women timely help and assistance in cases of rape, acid throwing, honour killing but also will ensure strict punishments to such criminals by bringing them to the court of justice.

He further said that in cases of gender based crimes psychological, legal and medical aid to the effected women should also be considered and initially in gender crime hit top ten districts of province including Lahore, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Multan, Rahim Yar Khan, Sahiwal, Muzafargarh, Sheikhupura and Gujrat these units will be established as in these districts ration of gender based crimes is higher than other districts.

He further directed to complete the process of posting/deputing Gender Focal Person who will be responsible to collect gender crime reports from Police Stations of their districts and share these reports with Central Police Office on daily basis so that an action against the culprits of such cases on priority basis could be ensured. He expressed these views while issuing directions to the officers during a meeting regarding gender crimes held at Central Police Office today under his chair.

During meeting AIG Gender Crime Maria Mehmood briefed IG Punjab that to control the gender crime initially a special unit is set up in district Muzaffargarh which has proved itself very helpful in timely action of police in gender based crimes. She further shared that a lady Sub Inspector is the incharge of gender crime unit and in addition to a Gender Focal Person other officials of the unit include 1 male ASI, 1 Lady Head constable and 5 Lady Constable, this unit deals with gender based crimes only and the same model will be replicated in all sensitive districts with higher ratio of gender crime, of the province to counter gender based crime.

She further said that gender based crimes affected women can lodge their report through 5 different sources like Front Desk, 8787 IGP Complaint Centre, Khidmat Marakaz, 15 Help Line and gender crime cell while with maintaining a close coordination with Darul Aman and other government departments so that according to the nature of case effected women could be helped. She further said that in this regard Darul Aman is being upgraded at Lahore, Bhawalpur, Rawalpindi and Faisalabad and also in process of consultation with other stake holders like Social Welfare, Child Protection Bureau, Violence against Women Centre and district administration.

IG Punjab directed officers that in consultation with relevant CPOs, and DPOs, gender based units should be established in the Police Stations where ratio of such crimes is higher than other areas. IG Punjab further said that Gender Responsive Policing Initiatives are among the priorities of Punjab Police so all available resources will be utilized to carry on the initiatives in this regard. During meeting Addl IG Operations Inam Ghani, DIG Crime and Investigation Jawad Dogar, DIG Headquarters Syed Khurram Ali, DIG IAB Ahsan Younas, AIG Gender Crime Maria Mehmood and other officers were present.

For more information, contact:

Punjab Police

Punjab Police Computer Bureau,

5th Floor, Central Police Office (CPO),

Punjab, Lahore

Tel: +92-42-99213019, +92-42-99213013

Fax: +92-42-99213012

Email: sapcb@punjabpolice.gov.pk

Website: www.punjabpolice.gov.pk