The federal government is moving to establish special courts in Islamabad for the speedy trial of rape cases. The proposed courts will operate under the Anti-Rape Act, 2021, which provides a legal framework for dedicated courts.
Two Courts Nominated in Islamabad
Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar has nominated two courts for the proposed arrangement.
One court will serve Islamabad’s East Sessions Division, while the other will handle cases in the West Sessions Division.
For the West Division, the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka has been nominated.
Meanwhile, Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Sohail’s court has been nominated for the East Division.
Once designated, both courts will hear rape cases falling within their respective sessions divisions.
Federal Cabinet Approval Required
The proposed special courts will be designated under Section 3 of the Anti-Rape Act, 2021. The provision allows the federal government to nominate special courts after consulting the chief justice of the relevant high court.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Law and Justice has prepared a summary regarding the designation of the two courts. The ministry has also sought approval from the federal cabinet for the proposed arrangement.
Once the cabinet approves the proposal, the two nominated courts will formally handle rape cases within their respective jurisdictions.
The move aims to create a dedicated judicial mechanism for rape cases in the capital and support faster proceedings under the existing legal framework.
