I would suggest that Islamabad be selected as the first city to launch a pilot project of mobile courts.
ISLAMABAD: To the best of my knowledge, I find that mobile courts set up in countries like India and Bangladesh have successfully dealt with day-to-day minor offences such as traffic violations, illegal smoking, food adulteration, hoarding, profiteering, using faulty weights and measures and encroachments. On the other hand, executive magistrates in Pakistan, who have such powers, seldom move out to reach the spots where such offences are regularly committed with impunity. The result is that the general public continues to suffer in everyday life.
I would suggest that Islamabad be selected as the first city to launch a pilot project of mobile courts headed by executive magistrates who should always remain ready, preferably within each police station, to give on-the-spot punishment for such offences on complaints made by the general public on well-publicised phone numbers. The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, can be suitably amended and additional funds may be provided out of fines imposed by these magistrates.
Jameel Bhutto
Former federal secretary
Published in The Express Tribune, March 12th, 2011.
