Transfer of courts to North, South Waziristan delayed

Provincial Justice Committee cites law and order situation

PESHAWAR:

The Provincial Justice Committee (PJC) has delayed the transfer of new courts to North and South Waziristan, citing the current law and order situation.

However, orders have been issued to provide more security to the already existing court in North Waziristan and also to increase security at the Peshawar University in view of the law and order situation there.

In this regard, a meeting of the 10th PJC was held under the chairmanship of Peshawar High Court (PHC) Chief Justice Qaisar Rashid Khan.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Advocate General Amir Javid, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Akhtar Hayat Khan, additional chief secretary, IG prisons, joint secretary law and justice commission of Pakistan and other officers participated.

The implementation of decisions made in the previous meetings was reviewed with the chief justice expressing his satisfaction and ordering the relevant departments to implement other decisions as well.

The committee insisted on the establishment of a state-of-the-art forensic lab at the regional level as well as in Peshawar so that the cases could be investigated on a scientific basis.

The committee regarding the establishment of the forensic lab was informed that land had been identified in Hayatabad and soon its acquisition would be ensured, and work started on it.

The participants of the meeting were told that the police database had been linked to the PHC.

Regarding the transfer of courts in the newly merged districts of North and South Waziristan, the IGP informed the committee members that the security situation in the two districts was not good, so the move to transfer the courts at this stage would not be feasible.

He said that security would be provided to the existing court in North Waziristan.

Similarly, regarding the transfer of the judicial magistrate to South Waziristan, the registrar said that a place was being identified for him and his transfer would be possible in the light of the improvement of security conditions.

During the meeting, orders were given to the prosecution to produce police witnesses in the cases of prisoners under trial immediately in the court with a warning that delay would not be tolerated.

The K-P Bar Council vice chairman was also directed to take on board the bar members to prioritise the cases of sub-trial prisoners.

The AIG investigation and DG prosecution would hold regular meetings in this regard to review the stage of disposal of cases and bring the obstacles in this regard to the notice of the district and sessions judge concerned so that they could take action.

In the upcoming PJC meeting, the rate of disposal of cases of prisoners under trial would also be reviewed.

During the meeting, the chief justice highlighted the issue of law and order at the Peshawar University, saying that the security arrangements should be increased and a joint action plan with the university administration should be decided upon.

He said that the security personnel posted at the university were amateurs, so the police should provide them with proper training to prevent any untoward incident.