Protection of Pakistan Ordinance 2013: Govt puts PPO into force
The ordinance has been silently enforced from Dec 5, 2013.
President Mamnoon Hussain had earlier promulgated the PPO, 2013 to tackle increasing number of terrorist activities across the country. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
The government has quietly enforced controversial Protection of Pakistan Ordinance (PPO), 2013 from December 5 last year through a Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO).
The interior ministry has issued the SRO – a copy of which is available with Express News – notifying December 5, 2013 as the date on which all provisions of the Protection of Pakistan Ordinance shall come into force.
President Mamnoon Hussain had earlier promulgated the PPO, 2013 to tackle increasing number of terrorist activities across the country. Later on, he promulgated the Protection of Pakistan (Amendment) Ordinance this month to particularly legalise the custody of missing persons. However, it was mentioned in the short title of the PPO that it would come into force on such date as government might appoint.
Under the PPO, 2013, the government will set up a prosecuting agency consisting of prosecutor general, regional prosecutors general and public prosecutors. Subject to the general control, the administrative control of the prosecuting agency shall vest in the prosecutor general.
The Joint Investigation Team (JIT), probing the suspected terrorists, shall conclude the investigation within 30 days and shall place it before the public prosecutor concerned. The public prosecutor shall scrutinise the JIT’s report, examine the evidentiary material available on the record and submit the report to the regional prosecutor general.
The public prosecutor or the regional prosecutors general will have the authority to direct the removal of any defect in the investigation report and may issue appropriate instructions for the completion of case file and the JIT shall comply with such directions and instructions.
The process of scrutiny and filing of the report before the special court shall be completed within a period of not exceeding seven days. The special court, on taking cognizance of the case, shall provide copies to the accused on the same day and the case shall be fixed for commencement of trial not later than seven days.
The evidence of the prosecution witness shall be recorded through video link. The proceedings shall be conducted on day-to-day basis. But if there are compelling reasons, the case may be adjourned for a period not exceeding three days. The judge of the special court shall conclude the trial within 30 days and shall take all necessary steps to avoid delay.
The government will declare any central prison as high security prison. The government may also provide facility of recording of evidence through video link. The government will establish safe houses for prosecution witnesses and their families. It will also take other measures to protect judges, investigation officers, prosecutors and witnesses during investigation and trial.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 30th, 2014.
The government has quietly enforced controversial Protection of Pakistan Ordinance (PPO), 2013 from December 5 last year through a Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO).
The interior ministry has issued the SRO – a copy of which is available with Express News – notifying December 5, 2013 as the date on which all provisions of the Protection of Pakistan Ordinance shall come into force.
President Mamnoon Hussain had earlier promulgated the PPO, 2013 to tackle increasing number of terrorist activities across the country. Later on, he promulgated the Protection of Pakistan (Amendment) Ordinance this month to particularly legalise the custody of missing persons. However, it was mentioned in the short title of the PPO that it would come into force on such date as government might appoint.
Under the PPO, 2013, the government will set up a prosecuting agency consisting of prosecutor general, regional prosecutors general and public prosecutors. Subject to the general control, the administrative control of the prosecuting agency shall vest in the prosecutor general.
The Joint Investigation Team (JIT), probing the suspected terrorists, shall conclude the investigation within 30 days and shall place it before the public prosecutor concerned. The public prosecutor shall scrutinise the JIT’s report, examine the evidentiary material available on the record and submit the report to the regional prosecutor general.
The public prosecutor or the regional prosecutors general will have the authority to direct the removal of any defect in the investigation report and may issue appropriate instructions for the completion of case file and the JIT shall comply with such directions and instructions.
The process of scrutiny and filing of the report before the special court shall be completed within a period of not exceeding seven days. The special court, on taking cognizance of the case, shall provide copies to the accused on the same day and the case shall be fixed for commencement of trial not later than seven days.
The evidence of the prosecution witness shall be recorded through video link. The proceedings shall be conducted on day-to-day basis. But if there are compelling reasons, the case may be adjourned for a period not exceeding three days. The judge of the special court shall conclude the trial within 30 days and shall take all necessary steps to avoid delay.
The government will declare any central prison as high security prison. The government may also provide facility of recording of evidence through video link. The government will establish safe houses for prosecution witnesses and their families. It will also take other measures to protect judges, investigation officers, prosecutors and witnesses during investigation and trial.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 30th, 2014.