KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Thursday directed the chief secretary, the home secretary and others to file their respective comments on a joint petition filed by three alleged gang rape victim women seeking reforms in the investigation of assault cases.

Headed by Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, a two-judge bench also put the provincial government law officer on notice and put off the hearing to a date to be later announced by the court’s office.

The petition was filed by three gang-rape victims, including Kainaat Soomro, who stated that the culprits involved in the cases were acquitted by the trial courts due to faulty and improper investigation by the police investigators.

In their petition, Ms Soormo said that she was gang-raped in 2007 and a case was registered at a police station in Dadu. However, she said, all the accused were exonerated from the charges by the trial court due to faulty investigation in the case.

She said that her appeal against the acquittal of the accused in the case was still pending disposal before the high court.

Another victim stated in the petition that she was assaulted by 10 men in Ghotki, however, only the prime accused was convicted and the remaining accused were acquitted by the court.

The third victim petitioner stated that she was gang-raped in Dadu in 2014, but no action was so far taken against the culprits who were influential people of the area.

The petitioner women stated that the Supreme Court of Pakistan had directed the respondent authorities to make reforms in the investigation process of the gang rape cases, but the directions of the apex court were not being complied with.

They said that the rape victims were unable to get justice due to the faulty process of investigation.

The petitioners, who also cited the provincial police chief and health secretary as respondents, asked the court to direct the respondent authorities to take immediate steps for improvement in the investigation of rape cases.

They further asked the court to direct the authorities to establish Rape Crisis Cell in each district across the province so that rape victims could get immediate medical, financial and legal assistance.

Published in Dawn, April 8th, 2016