ISLAMABAD: The National Commission on Human Rights (NCHR) on Wednesday said pending DNA reports were the reason for the delay in investigation of child abuse cases reported in the Ganda Singh Wala area of Kasur in 2015.

According to a statement, NCHR chairman retired Justice Ali Nawaz Chowhan visited District Kasur on Oct 2 to hear the child abuse cases.

In 2015, a gang of 25 criminals made around 400 videos of 280 minors and blackmailed parents of victims into paying hundreds of thousands of rupees as they were threatened that the videos would be uploaded on internet.

During the hearing, District Police Officer (DPO) Kasur Zulfiqar Ali requested the commission to assist them in getting DNA reports pertaining to these cases.

Justice Chowhan directed the district administration to submit a detailed report within 15 days and asked the police to arrest the perpetrators of the crime.

He asked the DPO Kasur to arrest the owners of under construction buildings where these crimes were committed.

He also directed the district administration to form a child protection cell within the DC office with trained and child friendly officers to deal with such cases.

The NCHR chairman also met members of civil society and asked them to sensitize the local community and play a meaningful role in this regard.

The majority of police cases are delayed because of the delay in finalizing DNA and forensic reports.

Despite the issues being raised at different platforms including parliamentary committees, serious efforts could not be made to get the DNA and forensic reports in time.

A police official requesting anonymity said that not only delay in DNA and forensic reports affect investigations but the victims start suspecting that because of unnecessary delay the police have changed the reports.

Published in Dawn, October 5th, 2017