Section 8

PLD 2021 Federal Statutes 638 PLD 2021 Federal Statutes 638 ACT XXX OF 2021 ANTI-RAPE (INVESTIGATION AND TRIAL) ACT, 2021 An Act to ensure expeditious redressal of rape and sexual abuse crimes in respect of women and children through special investigation teams and special Courts providing for efficacious procedures, speedy trial, evidence and matters connected therewith or incidental thereto; [Gazette of Pakistan Extraordinary, Part I, 4th December, 2021] No. F. 22(3)/2021-Legis, dated 3.12.2021.---The following Act of Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) received the assent of the President on the 1st December, 2021 is hereby published for general information:- It is hereby enacted as follows:- 8. Victim and witness protection.---(1) In addition to the existing laws, a victim and witness protection system may be established as prescribed in the rules notified by the ministry of law and justice and shall, with a view to carrying out the purposes of this Act and without generality of the aforesaid, include the following, namely:- (i) special security arrangements for witnesses and victims; (ii) concealment of identity; (iii) distance recording of testimonies through video-conferencing, audio-video links and by the use of modern devices; (iv) re-location of victims and witnesses; (v) provision of reasonable financial assistance; (vi) compensation to legal heirs of protected victims and witnesses; (vii) safe-houses, dar-ul-amans, etc.; (viii) such other measures as may be necessary and ancillary. (2) Till such time the rules envisaged in subsection (1) are prescribed, provincial or ICT witness protection laws as the case may be, shall be applicable to both victims and witnesses under this Act, mutatis mutandis.