Law reforms: All parties caucus calls for improving law, suggests amendments

Proposal focuses on three main areas— police, procession and free legal aid

ISLAMABAD: An all parties parliamentary caucus on Wednesday unanimously approved a reforms agenda to improve the rule of law and access to justice.

The proposal, discussed in a meeting, suggested reforms in three key areas — police, procession and free legal aid — which require immediate amendment.

It was suggested in the proposal that the strength of the police be increased by 15 per cent to bring it at par with the international UN standard. It further stated that that investigation costs must be provided to facilitate policing.

The existing annual budget allocation for the Punjab Police is $790 million for a population of approximately 103 million, about six per cent of the total budget allocated to the province. Out of this, 80.13 per cent is utilised in allowances, 7.57 per cent on fuel charges, 2.08 per cent for training, and 10.22 percent to pay miscellaneous expenses.

The reforms suggests an amendment in Section 154 of Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 to ensure that after registration of an FIR, subsequent actions by police must be on the basis of solid evidence which would lead to more effective prosecution of cases.

All FIRs should be recorded in simple language and be made available online and should also simultaneously be sent to the prosecution service to involve the latter in the case from its very inception.

The proposal adds that no arrests should be made on only an FIR without evidence. Another reform suggests that the government should ensure the protection of witnesses through the enactment of relevant laws to strengthen prosecution of crimes.

It also proposed that legal aid is provided, both at the federal and provincial level, to monitor and supervise the work of public defender services. Following the lapse of the Public Defenders and Legal Aid Office Ordinance, it was recommended that it should be enacted at both the federal and provincial levels.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 21^st, 2016.