The National Assembly Standing Committee on Human Rights has ordered a fresh investigation into the case of Ayat Noor, a five-year-old girl from Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, whose death sparked national outrage last month, as lawmakers also reviewed two other high-profile cases involving violence against women.
Committee Reviews Three Cases
The committee, chaired by MNA Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar, met at Parliament House to review the Ayat Noor case alongside the killing of Hina Javed in Rawalpindi and a harassment complaint filed by Dr Ayesha, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP).
Committee member Babar Nawaz briefed the panel on the Ayat Noor case, alleging that police failed to properly investigate the girl’s disappearance and death. According to Babar Nawaz, the child’s parents told him that for the first two days after she went missing, they had to convince police they were legally married before officers would act, ARY News reported.
Committee member Shamsher Ali Mazari said allegations of police negligence in the case must be investigated fully.
Fresh Investigation Ordered
The committee decided that if Ayat Noor’s parents remain dissatisfied with the ongoing investigation being conducted by the Superintendent of Police and Regional Police Officer for Hazara, they can request a fresh investigation team from a specialized unit, APP reported.
The panel also condemned the killing of Hina Javed and called for that case to be pursued without any leniency toward influential individuals, saying its decisions reflected a commitment to protecting citizens’ rights, ensuring impartial investigations and expediting justice in sensitive and high-profile cases across the country, according to APP.
Lawmakers separately urged parliamentarians representing the areas where the incidents occurred to stay engaged with law enforcement to help keep the investigations transparent, as reported by Dawn.
Part of a Wider Pattern
The committee’s session came amid broader concern in parliament over the handling of violence against women and children in Pakistan. Members argued that stronger coordination between ministries, government departments and law enforcement agencies is essential if existing legal protections are to translate into real accountability, according to Dawn’s reporting on the meeting.
The panel noted that despite existing legislation meant to protect citizens, cases of sexual violence and harassment have continued to rise, and it directed the Interior Ministry to pursue outstanding cases more effectively so that those responsible are arrested and prosecuted.
Why It Matters
The Ayat Noor case has already drawn comparisons in parliament to the 2018 Zainab case, which prompted major reforms to how Pakistan investigates and prosecutes crimes against children. Whether this latest committee intervention leads to a similarly lasting policy response, or whether it fades once public attention moves on, will likely depend on the sustained pressure from lawmakers and the public in the weeks ahead.
