LAHORE: Lahore High Court Chief Justice Aalia Neelum on Monday deplored that no effective measures have been taken to keep the victims` identity confidential in sexual assault cases and stressed that protecting them was of utmost importance.

She observed that the preservation of evidence was crucial, and video/audio recordings and other evidences must be legally secured under the Qanun-iShahadat (the law of evidence).

The chief justice was heading a full bench seized with a matter relating to the implementation of Anti-Rape Act 2021. Justice Farooq Haider and Justice Ali Zia Bajwa were the other members of the bench.

Punjab Prosecutor General Syed Farhad Ali Shah, acting Advocate General of Punjab Baleeghur Rehman Chaudhry and Inspector General of Police Dr Usman Anwar appeared before the bench.

The advocate general submitted a report on the implementation of the law, pointing out thatit was a federal law with certain gaps.

At this, Chief Justice Neelum remarked, `This is like putting the court and the nation on a wild goose chase.

As she inquired why the attorney general was absent, a deputy attorney general explained that the principal law officer was occupied with engagements in Islamabad.

The bench observed that it was a highly significant matter and the attorney general`s presence was necessary.

The bench further remarked that the issue concerns the entire nation, not just an individual.

It regretted that the anti-rape law was enacted in 2021 but serious shortcomings remain in its implementation.

The IGP stated that there had been 5,000 cases of abduction and 7,000 `honour killings` of women.

He said the police investigators visit crime scenes and compile reports, while special officers are being recruited and trained to improve investigation.

However, some measures required approval from the cabi-net, he added.

The bench adjourned the hearing for a date to be fixed later by the office and sought personal appearance of the attorney general.

PTI leaders` indictment An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Monday approved a prosecution`s request for amending the indictment of PTI leaders and activists in six cases, including Askari Tower attack and burning of the Shadman Police Station during the May 9 riots.

ATC-I judge Manzer Ali Gill allowed six separate applications filed through Deputy Prosecutor General Muhammad Azir in as many cases. The prosecution stated that the charges against the accused had been framed in a vague and complex manner as multiple offences had been clubbed together under one head. It said any accused at a later stage of the trial could take an undue advantage to secure their acquittal in the cases.

The prosecution said the trial in all six cases was at initial stage and the proposed amendments to the charge would notcause any delay in the conclusion of the trial. It pointed out that only statements of the witnesses had been recorded and their cross-examination was yet to be conducted by the defence.

Therefore, the prosecution argued, the charges framed by the trial court might be amended in a way that each offence placed in a separate head of charge in the interest of justice and fair play.

After allowing the prosecution plea, the judge fixed Feb 20 for fresh indictment in the Shadman Police Station attack case and Feb 24 in other cases. The judge conducted the hearing at the Kot Lakhpat Jail.

The PTI leaders, including Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Senator Ejaz Chaudhry, Punjab President Dr Yasmin Rashid, former governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema and former provincialministerMianMahmoodur Rasheed, have been indicted in these cases.

Other indicted accused include PTI social media activists Sanam Javed and Tayyaba Raja, former MNAs Aliya Hamza Malik and Rubina Jamil, and fashion designer Khadija Shah.