Imran directs expediting reforms process

PM receives briefings on measures to improve criminal justice system, good governance

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Imran Khan stressed the need for expediting the reform process in governance as well as in the criminal justice system, and assured on Thursday that the government would provide necessary resources to fix these systems.

Imran chaired back-to-back meetings on the reforms in the criminal justice system and the governance action matrix. He received briefings on implementation of the Civil Procedure Code in the country and the steps taken for improvement in the administrative affairs.

Law Minister Farogh Naseem, Attorney General Khalid Jawed Khan, Punjab Law Minister Raja Basharat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Law Minister Sultan Mehmood Khan and relevant senior officials attended the meeting on the criminal justice system reforms.

Imran told the meeting that previous governments took advantage of the lawlessness after damaging the justice system. He added that only those nations had progressed which established a system of organised and strong justice.

Law Minister Farogh Naseem informed the meeting that the Civil Procedure Code was being implemented by resolving all constitutional issues related to reforms. The prime minister was also briefed on reforms in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The meeting was informed that separate task forces were formed after identifying 13 areas to formulate a comprehensive strategy for the reform process and that the recommendations of the task forces were ready for implementation.

The 13 areas include registration of case, arrest and the first information report (FIR) system, modernisation and computerisation of police stations, direct transfer of funds to police stations and appointment of station in-charge as principal accounting officer, investigators.

Other areas include improvement in the challan system, establishing independent prosecution, reducing pressure on courts, simplifying and expediting the trial process, computerising court records and strengthening the probation and parole system.

The prime minister directed the authorities concerned to ensure that their work was completed on a priority basis. He added that “goals should be set in this regard and their timely completion should be ensured”.

Administrative reforms

Separately, Imran received a briefing from the relevant senior officials and ministers about the steps taken for the improvement in the administrative affairs. He was also informed that a series of measures had been taken to ensure good governance in Punjab and the process was being accelerated.

The measures aimed at providing relief to the people, and cover areas from registration of grievances to their resolution, holding open Katchehries, resolution of issues related to finance department, establishment of one-window operation, facilitation of people at government offices and at local level.

The prime minister was also apprised of the timely redressal of grievances in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, coordination with the administration of the merged districts, strict monitoring of the prices of items of daily use and reduction in the price of flour in the province.

Imran directed that any impediment to good governance should be removed on a priority basis and the administrative reforms should be implemented in a timely manner to provide relief to the people. He also called for expediting the implementation of these measures.

Legal action against corrupt elements should be ensured as there is no distinction between rich and poor in the welfare state, the prime minister said, adding that reforms would not be possible without strengthening the system of justice.