'New laws to be introduced to curb rape cases'.

LAHORE -- Punjab will introduce stricter laws and declare an 'emergency' to curb the rising trend of rape cases.

Punjab Home Minister Ataullah Tarar and Law Minister Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan told a joint press conference here on Sunday that a cabinet committee on law and order met under the chair of Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz Sharif the other day and expressed its concern over the increase in rape cases for the last over three years.

The body decided to introduce a set of legislations to make stricter punishments for rape and set up a dedicated helpline for the victims, they said. An emergency would be declared on rape cases to proceed against the accused on a war footing as a cabinet committee would begin functioning on Monday (today) to overlook all these measures, they said, adding the role of the Punjab Forensic Science Agency would be improved for sampling of DNA on a fast track basis and a meeting with the lab authorities was scheduled later in the evening.

They said the civil society, teachers, lawyers and other segments of society and agencies working for women and children in the province would be consulted on all the issues and the process would be completed within a fortnight. They said the family and society would have to play their respective roles in protecting the children from sexual abuse.

They urged the parents never to leave their children alone as in most cases close relatives and neighbours were found involved in abusing the children. They said a special awareness campaign would be run, while students would also be sensitised in schools about sexual harassment.

Tarar alleged that the law and order situation in the province worsened under the PTI as police officers were posted after accepting bribe worth tens of millions of rupees. He said a list of the...