LAHORE, Oct 10: The Lahore High Court on Thursday sought replies from the Punjab government and the inspector general of police on a petition seeking inclusion of Anti-Terrorism Act’s provisions in rape cases involving minor victims.

Four advocates filed this petition through a senior lawyer Babar Awan, also a PPP senator, in the wake of recent incidents of rape with minor girls in Lahore and other cities.

Petitioners Muhammad Ilyas Khan, Wasim Shahabi, Shakil Ahmad Pasha and Sajjad Qureshi said such crimes were causing lawlessness and terror in society and it was the responsibility of the state to take strict action.

They pointed out that in India four criminals involved in a similar crime were awarded death penalty and the same should also be done in Pakistan to stop this crime.

The lawyers prayed to the court to seek details of all rape cases registered in Punjab during the last five years and number of challans submitted to the trial courts. They also prayed to order the police to include provisions of Anti-Terrorism Act in such cases.

The court issued notices to the respondents for Oct 23.