IHC Asks Report on Child Protection Measures by Ministry of Human Rights

Islamabad High Court Asks Ministry of Human Rights for Report on Child Protection Measures

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has requested a comprehensive report from the Ministry of Human Rights concerning the operation of the authority set up to safeguard children. This action follows a public interest petition filed by citizen Suneela Khurram, seeking details about child abuse incidents and missing children cases.

Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir issued an order directing the ministry to respond to specific queries raised in court. The Islamabad administration submitted a report indicating that 562 criminal cases of child abuse and missing children were registered between 2022 and 2025.

The Ministry informed the court that several measures have been implemented since the enactment of the Zainab Alert Response and Recovery Act (ZARA) 2020, aimed at protecting children’s rights and preventing violence, abduction, and exploitation. The court noted that these measures align with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and other international treaties.

The IHC sought information about the establishment of the Zainab Alert Response and Recovery Agency under Section 3 of the ZARA Act, including its organizational structure, vacancies, appointments, and performance metrics. Additionally, the court inquired about systems for reporting missing or abducted children, how this data is uploaded to the ZARA database, and whether it links with Islamabad Police and other relevant institutions.

The court also asked for details on nationwide implementation of the ZARA Act, including case registrations against negligent government officials under Section 9. It sought information on the establishment of the Islamabad Child Protection Advisory Board, recommendations from board meetings, and actions taken by ZARA and Islamabad Police in coordination.

The court ordered that responses be submitted as a detailed report with relevant documents before the next hearing, with the Ministry’s nominated officer and the Director General of ZARA Authority required to attend. The case was adjourned pending further proceedings.