On the go: GRC resolves 1,610 out of 1,870 cases

To protect the resolution centre, a draft bill has been sent to law department.

PESHAWAR: The Grievances Resolution Centre (GRC) has resolved 1,610 out of 1,870 cases registered during September.

The GRC was set up in August by the home department as a joint venture between the police, prosecution and prisons departments to provide the general public an alternative justice system.

According to Muntazir Khan the chairman on the working group on alternative dispute resolution, GRC has been attracting people; the proof of which can be seen in the number of complaints received daily. “The centre resolved around 1,600 disputes just in September,” Muntazir told The Express Tribune on Monday.

In order to give the GRC legal protection, a draft has been sent to the law department where it is being vetted. The law department has expressed some reservations but those will be addressed; the home department plans to table the draft before the provincial assembly, said the chairman.

“Once the bill is adopted, it will reduce the burden of the courts by 50% as the GRC will be resolving criminal as well as civil disputes,” added Muntazir.

He said training sessions are being held in different phases for GRC members, where trainees are being taught not to violate the Constitution of Pakistan, international norms or any human rights.

The GRC

This alternative dispute resolution committee resolves local disputes and in many cases the complainant’s identity is also protected.

The committee takes note of the problems and barriers faced during administrative processes such as delays in the registration of FIRs, verification of national identity cards and the procurement of domiciles. People can register their complaints with the centre to get minor disputes resolved without any delay.

Earlier last month, Home and Tribal Affairs Secretary Syed Akhtar Ali Shah told The Express Tribune the success of the Dispute Resolution Committee motivated the ministry to serve the general public further, “specifically in life-threatening cases”.

According to Shah, the prosecution department will deal with complaints related to delays in the submission of challans or to issues related to witnesses in courts. He said, “If a [legal] complainant feels his case is not being dealt with or is being delayed, he can file a complaint with the resolution centre.” In addition, the GRC will also provide assistance to those whose prison release documents are delayed while commissioners and deputy commissioners will look into issues related to domiciles and the issuance of arms licences.

The centre, Shah had added, does not undermine the police or reflect its shortcomings. “There will be representatives of the general public at the GRC.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 30^th, 2014.