Probe into Pakistan child porn scandal by JIT

A joint investigation team (JIT) was formed on Tuesday to probe a massive child pornography scandal in Pakistan's Punjab province, media reports said.

Reports of a 25-member gang of paedophiles making and selling videos of child sexual abuse in Punjab province's Ganda Singh Wala area for the last 10 years surfaced on Saturday.

Investigations into the massive scandal -- termed the biggest in the country's history -- revealed that around 400 videos were made of 280 minor victims, some younger than 14 years, Geo News reported.

Amid mounting calls for justice from protesting families, media and civil society, the Punjab government has formed the five-member JIT headed by Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) Abu Bakr Khuda Baksh to investigate the case and present its report within two weeks.

The JIT will investigate the pending cases of child abuse in Hussain Khanwala village and submit its report to the Lahore High Court.

Meanwhile, anti-terrorism charges have been included in the lodged cases. The case will now be heard in the anti-terrorism court.

Relatives of four more victims have come forward to register their complaints in the child abuse scandal. An application was filed by family members claiming that the victims had been abused at gunpoint.

So far, the number of accused arrested has risen to 14 after police made two more arrests on Monday.

Also on Monday, the National Assembly of Pakistan passed a unanimous resolution seeking the harshest possible punishment for the culprits.

Members of the lower house of parliament expressed solidarity with the victimised children and their parents.