Prisoner relief: Focus group suggests amendments in criminal law

Participants say courts, govt should reward prisoners who have shown good conduct by granting parole.

PESHAWAR:

A focus group discussion held here on Thursday proposed amendments to the Probation of Offender Ordinance (POO) 1960 and the Good Conduct Prisoners Probation Release Act 1926.

The platform for discussion was organised by the Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC) in collaboration with the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Directorate of Reclamation and Probation.

The seminar gave particular importance in identifying the gaps in the Juvenile Justice System Ordinance and how it could be improved. Considering that the 18th Amendment empowers the provinces, the seminar suggested that all weaknesses and future plans should be dealt with proactively.

SPARC Juvenile Justice Programme Manager Akbar Ali Shah said that probation and parole laws were essential and must be utilised considering the over-populated jails. No amendments have been made, however, to existing laws, despite the requirement.

The group discussion also focused on the roles and responsibility of stakeholders in the criminal justice system and its implementation.

Commenting on the National Judicial Policy on Probation, Shah said it provides the courts and the government the necessary tools to extend the benefits of parole to deserving convicts, who have shown good conduct, in accordance with the law.

University of Peshawar professor Dr Basharat Hussain moderated the discussion and presented the history and development of the probation system in Pakistan.

Hussain enlightened the participants of the probation systems in developed countries, including the United States and Britain. He said that we should learn from the successful experiences in these countries and improve the system in Pakistan accordingly.

SPARC Regional Manager Jahanzeb Khan said even though provinces are empowered by the 18th Amendment, no improvement in the probation ordinance has been made.

To initiate a discussion in the concerned quarters, a detailed report will be shared with the government.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 5^th, 2013.