Lahore: Prosecutor General (PG) of Punjab, Syed Farhad Ali Shah, has urged the provincial government to implement a verification system for the credentials of all staff working in educational institutions, in a bid to protect students from potential sex offenders. In a letter to the Provincial Secretary of the Public Prosecution Department, Shah emphasized the need for hiring authorities in both public and private educational institutions to check the sex offenders register before finalizing staff recruitment.
Shah commended the federal government’s recent establishment of the Anti-Rape (Sex Offenders Register) Rules 2023 under the Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trial) Act 2021, calling it a significant step in safeguarding vulnerable populations. The creation of a national database of convicted sex offenders, managed by NADRA, is seen as a crucial tool in the fight against sexual violence, particularly in environments where children and young adults are at high risk.
In his letter, Shah pointed out that while the sex offender’s database offers considerable preventive potential, it remains underutilized, particularly in educational settings. He urged the provincial government to work with the federal Ministry of Law and Justice to formalize a system that would allow educational institutions to verify the backgrounds of prospective staff members before hiring.
Furthermore, Prosecutor General called for a comprehensive review of existing faculty, teaching, and non-teaching staff across all educational institutions to ensure their suitability and safety for students.
The proposal aims to enhance safety measures for students and prevent any potential harm by ensuring that staff members with a history of sexual offenses are not employed in educational institutions.