Weak prosecution: Data uncovers a raft of stalled, incomplete probes

Investigations remain incomplete in as many as 88,291 cases in Punjab alone.

ISLAMABAD:

The Law and Justice Commission on Saturday released prosecution data from all four provinces for the first seven months of the year.

The figures were released during a meeting of a sub-committee of the National Judicial (Policy Making) Committee, presided by Supreme Court Registrar Dr Faqir Hussain, which discussed various issues relating to the effective and expeditious administration of criminal justice.

According to the data, in Punjab, investigations for 88,291 cases remain incomplete or their challan was not submitted on time, while an interim challan was submitted for 43,530 cases and action was against 4,591 delinquent investigating officers.

In Sindh, investigations for 288 cases were not completed on time; an interim challan was submitted for 81 cases and action was taken against 369 delinquent investigating officers.

In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, the challan for 24,786 was not filed within the stipulated period as provided in Criminal Procedure Code, while action was taken against 457 delinquent investigating officers.

In Balochistan, investigations of 43 cases remain incomplete or their challan was not submitted on time, while action was taken against five delinquent investigating officers.

The sub-committee decided that, in future, before sending the consolidated data to the Law and Justice Commission, it would first be examined by a committee comprising a high court registrar, the inspector general of police and the prosecutor general to avoid discrepancy.

The sub-committee also examined the data of offenders/convicts released on parole and probation between January 1 and August 15, this year. In Punjab, 15,467 male, 186 female and 154 juvenile offenders were released on probation. In Sindh, 495 male offenders, one female offender and 28 juvenile offenders were released on probation. In K-P, 607 male, 10 female and 37 juvenile offenders were released, while two male offenders and two Juvenile offenders were released on probation in Balochistan.

Moreover, 120 convicts were released on parole in Punjab; 29 in Sindh and 24 in Balochistan.

The sub-committee also examined the statements showing the sanctioned and working strength of parole and probation departments.

In Punjab, 19 parole officers are working against the sanctioned strength of 20; in Sindh and K-P, only one parole officer is working against the sanctioned strength of 21 and two, respectively. Meanwhile, six parole officers are working in Balochistan against the sanctioned strength of eight.

In Punjab, 51 probation officers are working against the sanctioned strength of 57; two in Sindh against the sanctioned strength of 23, 23 in K-P against the sanctioned strength of 28; and eight in Balochistan against the sanctioned strength of 14.

The sub-committee also emphasised developing a mechanism to impart training to newly-appointed parole and probation officers.

According to data received from the registrars of high courts, from January 1, 2012 to July 31, 2012, 5,495 prisoners were released in Punjab involved in petty offences; while 208 in Sindh, 1,665 in K-P and 62 prisoners in Islamabad were released.

The committee transpired that the number of released prisoners involved in petty offences has increased due to frequent visits of judicial officers as provided in the National Judicial Policy. The visits have also solved the issue of overcrowded of prisons.

The sub-committee also decided to form a committee, comprising IG police and IG prisons, to evolve a mechanism for the timely production of under-trial prisoners before courts, particularly from one district to another.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 26^th, 2012.