Sindh High Court (SHC) has restrained provincial government to change the name of "Safe House" with "Apna Ghar" to ensure safe shelter for an aggrieved woman, being victim of sexual & domestic violence, family feuds, tribal clashes, Karo kari, early marriage, traumatic situation, calamity and property dispute.
A single bench of SHC headed by Justice Salahuddin Panhwar releasing a detailed verdict in case related to safe houses said that the initiatives towards 'safe house/Apna Ghar' are worth appreciating and seem to serve the purpose and object which this court and time demanded. Court, however, is unable to understand why the term 'Safe house' is being substituted with 'Apna Ghar' when, per earlier reports, the 'Safe houses' were established in compliance of directives of this court and even considerable projection thereof has been made.
Though, name normally is never of much weight but objective thereof, however, when concrete initiatives already stood taken then it is never advisable to change it as same may compel to re-initiate whole process least making it divulge again at cost of government money, court observed and ordered that therefore, the name of 'Safe house' be not changed or substituted with 'Apna Ghar'.
Court ordered stated a mechanism has been submitted by Sindh Government to run the affairs of Safe Houses, which stated that these would be established to ensure safe shelter for an aggrieved woman who being victim of sexual & domestic violence, family feuds, tribal clashes, Karo kari, early marriage, traumatic situation, calamity and property dispute etc. shall find place for safety and security.
The Safe house will immediately provide women with temporary refuge and safe haven against any violence and aggrieved woman shall be able to arrive/to be brought from Police Rescue Centre, immediately after her being in conditions of distress and duress, in the nearer safe house for security, shelters and seek justice about threat and abuse before she is shifted to nearer Darul-Aman.
The district administration is responsible to ensure coordination between police, judiciary, hospitals and other public institutions as well as civil society service providers for proper up-keep, court order stated.
Sindh Government submitted proper spaces for Safe Houses in all 29 districts of the province and on initial assessment, a summary has been submitted to the Chief Minister Sindh, for allocation of funds Rs 145 million for all 29 Safe Houses in the whole Sindh (annual grant of Rs5 million for each Safe House).
This allocation shall be placed at the disposal of Deputy Commissioner Concerned to be spent on basic equipments, reading, clothing, salaries of basic staff and up keep of the safe houses, order stated.
The Social Welfare Department has also prepared a draft mechanism for functioning of safe houses with provision of operational funds, human resource, logistic support and referral system which will be discussed with relevant stake-holders i.e. Women Development Department and Sindh Commission on the status of Women before seeking approval from the Chief Secretary Sindh, order stated.
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