Judiciary being blamed for poor investigation standards: CJ

Chief Justice says the judiciary cannot give a decision against any person where evidence is insufficient.

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said on Sunday that deteriorating investigation standards result in courts releasing individuals, for which the judiciary is later held responsible.

While addressing the concluding ceremony of the three-day judicial conference in Islamabad, the Chief Justice said the judiciary cannot give a decision against any person where evidence is insufficient.

His statements come after public uproar over the court's ruling to release five defendants and commute a sixth defendant’s death penalty to a life sentence in the controversial gang rape case of Mukhtaran Mai.

Chaudhry said the objective of the conference was aimed at improving the national judicial policy.

Chaudhry also said some people have accused the judiciary of interfering in the affairs of executives, however, the judiciary has constitutional powers to regulate the government machinery.

He added that justice was being delayed because of shortage of staff in the judiciary. He also demanded the government remove discrepancies in salary packages of judicial officers.