In a significant development, the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) has initiated the first national consultation on Pakistan’s draft Islamabad Capital Territory Medico‑Legal Regulation Act, 2025, a reform effort aimed at overhauling medico-legal procedures in the capital.

The consultation, led by NCSW Chairperson Ume Laila Azhar, brought together officials from the Ministry of Human Rights, the Ministry of Law & Justice, the National Health Services, the ICT Administration, and leading experts in forensic science and gender rights. Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, speaking at the event, underscored the urgent need for gender-sensitive and rights-based forensic protocols.

Participants addressed critical issues including:

  • Victim‑centered forensic procedures for gender-based violence (GBV) cases
  • Use of digital tools and decentralization to improve accessibility
  • Reforming medico-legal terminology to prevent stigma or premature judgments
  • Tiered jurisdictional coordination among provincial laws and draft frameworks
  • Safety and legal protection for medico-legal officers

NCSW emphasized that this effort is more than drafting legislation; it is a societal imperative to correct systemic injustices where survivors often face further trauma. The panel has proposed including police, judiciary, and health units for effective implementation.

A follow-up consultation is planned for August 2025, focusing on real-world case studies and enforcement mechanisms to turn policy into practice.