Tag: law

  • New report reveals surge in gender-based violence cases, low conviction rates

    New report reveals surge in gender-based violence cases, low conviction rates

    A report released by the Law and Justice Com­m­ission of Pakistan (LJCP) reveals an increase in gender-based violence across Pakistan.

    The report also notes an increase in pending gender violence cases in the courts.

    The number of pending gender violence cases rose from 21,891 to 39,665 in 2023.

    In Punjab, the number of pending gender violence cases increased by 100 percent, while Sindh saw a three percent increase, KP experienced a 14 percent rise, Balochistan had a two percent increase, and Islamabad saw a one percent rise.

    Most cases of gender-based violence involve sexual assault, and pending cases also include kidnapping, human trafficking, and murder of women.

    Crimes committed using electronic means related to gender cases have also increased, while economically motivated crimes have decreased.

    According to the report, the conviction rate for those involved in gender crimes is only five percent, and the acquittal rate for accused individuals in gender crimes is 64 percent.

    Additionally, 480 special courts were established in 2019 to address gender-based crimes across the country.

  • Federal Government authorises ISI to record, trace calls

    Federal Government authorises ISI to record, trace calls

    The federal government of Pakistan has granted permission to the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency to intercept phone calls in the interest of national security across any telecommunications system, and apprehension of criminal activities.

    According to a government notification, ISI has been authorised to record phone calls under Section 54 of the Pakistan Telecommunication Act, 1996.

    The notification also grants the agency authority to trace messages and calls including WhatsApp calls, messages, and other applications.

    This authority is vested upon ISI officers of Grade 18 or above, subject to approval by the Prime Minister.

    On June 30, Justice Babar Sattar of the Islamabad High Court stated in the judgement of the Audio Leaks case of son of former Chief Justice Saqib Nisar and Bushra Bibi that any form of surveillance of citizens is illegal under the law, including the surveillance of four million citizens.

    The responsibility for this mass surveillance lies with the federal government, and the Prime Minister and the cabinet are collectively and individually accountable for it.

    The court order also expressed the expectation that the Prime Minister would seek reports from intelligence agencies and present the matter before the cabinet. The order further directed the Prime Minister to identify those responsible for implementing the lawful Interception Management System and conducting mass surveillance, with reports to be submitted by July 5.

  • NADRA’s appeal against restoration of Hafiz Hamdullah’s identity card scheduled for hearing

    NADRA’s appeal against restoration of Hafiz Hamdullah’s identity card scheduled for hearing

    The Supreme Court of Pakistan has scheduled the hearing of NADRA’s appeal against the restoration of the identity card of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam leader Hafiz Hamdullah.

    A two-member bench headed by Justice Muneeb Akhtar of the Supreme Court will hear the case on July 10.

    NADRA had cancelled the identity card on grounds of Hamdullah being a foreigner.

    The Islamabad High Court declared the cancellation of Hafiz Hamdullah’s identity card null and void and ordered its restoration.

    NADRA has now filed an appeal in the Supreme Court against the decision of the Islamabad High Court.

  • Gifts given to wife at time of marriage or before separation cannot be revoked

    Gifts given to wife at time of marriage or before separation cannot be revoked

    The Sindh High Court has ruled that gifts given by a husband to his wife at the time of marriage or before separation cannot be rescinded.

    The Sindh High Court conducted a hearing on a petition about the return of gifts given to the wife either at the time of marriage or before separation.

    The court dismissed Arshad Jameel’s plea against the trial court’s decision and issued a detailed judgement on the appeal.

    According to the court’s decision, gifts given to the wife at the time of marriage or before separation cannot be reclaimed; gifts given during the marriage become the personal property of the wife.

  • Married man pretending to be bachelor taken to court

    Married man pretending to be bachelor taken to court

    A case has been registered against a married man who pretended to be single to remarry at the request of his wife.

    The second wife of the accused, Wajid Mansoor, filed a case at Sadiqabad police station in Rawalpindi, alleging that he is already married and the father of a daughter.

    The suspect reportedly entered into a second marriage to pursue his vested interests through lies, fraud, and deception. Mansoor has also been accused of stealing sixteen tolas of gold from his second wife.

  • Court issues notice to PTA in TikTok ban case

    Court issues notice to PTA in TikTok ban case

    The Peshawar High Court has sought a response from the federal government within 15 days on the request to impose a complete ban on TikTok. The petition stated that relevant authorities have failed to remove ‘profane and obscene’ content on the app.

    According to media reports, the bench, comprising of Chief Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim and Justice Sahibzada Asadullah, fixed June 20 for the hearing.

    The petition was filed by a lawyer, Imran Khan, who requested the court to order the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the Ministry of Information to arrest the defendants on TikTok in Pakistan and to ban the platform permanently.

    According to the petition, the guidelines of Tik Tok violate the Constitution of Pakistan.

    It has also been requested to the court to direct the defendants to not allow social applications in future which would affect the moral values of the people of Pakistan.

    Barrister Babar Shehzad Imran appeared on behalf of the petitioner and argued that while there are benefits of social media, some social media platforms have opened the way for blasphemy against decency, morality and the glory of Islam in countries like Pakistan.

  • Truck full of bakras robbed in Karachi

    Truck full of bakras robbed in Karachi

    Bakra Eid is around the corner which means sacrificial animals are nothing less than an asset.

    A truck full of goats was looted near Kamran Chowrangi in Gulistan Johar area of Karachi.

    According to the police, four men on a motorcycle escaped with a truck full of goats.

    The vehicle was carrying 30 goats. Two suspects forced the driver off the truck.

    A trader, Abdul Manan, said the goats were being transported from Hyderabad to Gulistan Johar.

    Police are investigating the incident and are in search of the culprits following the complaint from the merchant.

  • Acting Punjab governor signs controversial defamation bill into law

    Acting Punjab governor signs controversial defamation bill into law

    On June 8, acting Governor Punjab Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan signed the highly controversial Punjab Defamation Bill, 2024 into law, Geo News reports.

    The bill has invited strong criticism from journalists, human rights organisations, and the opposition calling it a “black law.” However, it was passed into a law today disregarding all concerns and opposition.

    Lahore Press Club President Arshad Ansari slammed the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) deceptive attitude, stating that the party deceived journalists.

    “The bill was signed by the acting governor by sending the Punjab governor on leave under a plan,” said Ansari.

    He also said that the PPP was apparently showing support to journalists and even assured that it wouldn’t be passed into law but in reality, it was in cahoots with the provincial government.

    The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) also expressed grave concern over the defamation bill.

  • Forced begging now non-bailable offence

    Forced begging now non-bailable offence

    The Punjab Home Department has sent amendments to the anti-rape law to the Cabinet for approval.

    According to the spokesman of the Punjab Home Department, under the new law, forced begging has been declared a non-bailable offence.

    The spokesperson said that those who force children, the elderly and women to beg will be severely punished, while the gang leaders of beggar mafias will face 10 years of imprisonment with a fine of 20 lakh rupees. In case of non-payment of fine, three additional years of punishment will have to be served.

    Similarly, apart from forcing children to beg, those you physically harm minors are also in for a tough time.

    The Home Department noted that previously, there was no law to punish the gang leaders of the beggar mafia.

  • Watermelon growers send notice of damages to Dr. Affan

    Watermelon growers send notice of damages to Dr. Affan

    Businessmen from Faisalabad have sent a notice of 10 billion rupees to Dr. Affan Qaiser against his statement about injecting watermelons.

    A request has also been made by Faisalabad engine traders to register a case against Dr. Affan in Ghulam Muhammad police station.

    According to the petition, Dr. Affan’s statement spread fear and panic and caused billions of rupees loss to businessmen and landlords.

    The YouTuber doctor was also sent a legal notice for damages of ten billion rupees.

    Background:

    In one of his latest videos, he raised the issue of “adulterated watermelons” i.e. injecting watermelons with chemicals in order to give them the red colour that consumers accept as a sign of the fruit being sweet.

    A couple days later, Dr. Qaiser released another video, justifying his claims with online articles while also pointing that he never put the blame on farmers.