This can also help turn young offenders away from a life of crime
PESHAWAR: The Juvenile Justice System Ordinance (JJSO) is a landmark legislation on juvenile justice in Pakistan, promulgated on July 1, 2000. However, the JJSO has yet to be effectively enforced, leaving much to be desired in terms of how children accused of committing crimes are treated by the authorities and in terms of supplemental efforts made to prevent juveniles from becoming repeat offenders and serious offenders. The JJSO is a progressive law and a few steps by the government could help implement it in letter and in spirit throughout the country, including Fata. The JJSO was extended to Fata back in 2004.
Under the JJSO, every child who comes in contact with the law is entitled to free legal aid at the state’s expense but due to a lack of budgetary allocation for the purpose, it has resulted in a child being unable to get legal provision. Both the federal and provincial governments should take necessary steps for setting up exclusive juvenile courts and designated juvenile judges, establish borstal institutions and provide free legal aid at the state’s expense as per the JJSO 2000. Such comprehensive system will not only provide punitive measures to deal with children who break the law, but can also help turn young offenders away from a life of crime.
Imran Takkar
Published in The Express Tribune, January 6th, 2017.
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