Pakistan

Strengthening justice system: Premier forms panel to review criminal laws

Committee will present its suggestions in six months

Hasnaat Malik July 31, 2015

PHOTO: WEB SOUL

ISLAMABAD:

In an attempt to improve the justice system, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif constituted a committee of nine jurists to review the criminal laws of the country.

The ministry of law, justice and human rights divisions, in a statement, revealed that the committee has been asked to present its recommendations within six months.

The notification further says that it is expedient to improve the criminal justice system of Pakistan and make it more practicable in terms of meeting current requirements of the country.

“For the improvement of the criminal justice of Pakistan and making it more practicable, it is necessary to review all laws relating to that system and for the matters connected,” the statement said.

According to the notification, Attorney General for Pakistan Salman Aslam Butt will be heading the committee while the other members include PBC Vice Chairman Azam Nazeer Tarar, Supreme Court Bar Association president Fazl-e-Haq Abbasi, former SCBA president Kamran Murtaza, former SCBA president Asma Jahangir, Rasheed A Rizvi advocate, Muhammad Akram Quraishi, Khawaja Haris Ahmad and Abdul Lateef Afridi. PBC’s secretary will act as secretary of the committee.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Tarar shared that the committee has been constituted on the proposal of the apex body of lawyers because they believe that the establishment of military courts is a temporary measure and the federal government should review criminal laws for a permanent solution.

“Members of committee have been taken from all provinces as they all have expertise of criminal laws,” he said adding that the committee in its first meeting will identify the laws that need to be reviewed in light of the present circumstances.

The committee will review both ordinary as well as terrorist laws of the country.

Commenting on the premier’s decision to review the criminal laws of the country, senior jurist Khawaja Muhammad Haris said the criminal justice system has three main components—investigation, trial and post-trial, wherein convicts live in prisons. Haris said that the committee will examine all the three stages and present its recommendations.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 31^st, 2015.

COMMENTS (7)

Asif Iqbal | 9 years ago | Reply @ Disgusting - trust me dear I have no personal stakes with the incumbent government, nor do I consider a difference of opinion a reason good enough to be categorized as an idiot. I can see the political affiliation from where your 'disgusted' emotion is coming from - the power of it resonates at the same frequency as that of DJ Butt's multimillion rupees speakers (whose payment, and that too after relentless efforts and dragging PTI in court of law, probably came from Shaukat Khanum funds), however, I reiterating my point and, rather than calling you an idiot as well, humbly request your kind self to focus on the issue in the article, which is: formation of a panel for Strengthening Justice System, rather than referring to looting and plundering cases, non of which have actually been proved in any court of law. Have a nice day and smile for a change of mood dear.

Disgusting | 9 years ago | Reply @Asif Iqbal, it is because of idiots like you that this nation is suffering at the hands of a corrupt Party called PML N. Sychphants like you pollute politics with such leadership who treat common man with contempt and loot our money through laundering and fraud.

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Asif Iqbal | 9 years ago | Reply @ Motiwala - How unfortunate it is to read your silly comments over a great step towards a matter of such National importance. Let's put aside our party differences that lead us into humiliating and belittling the sincere efforts of our government and, for a change, rather appreciate the good things being done for our country, shall we?

Sonya | 9 years ago | Reply Only Tehreek e Insaaf can bring judicial changes in 2019.

Motiwala | 9 years ago | Reply The alleged PM should form a committee. To investigate whether, he, himself, also known as 'The of Raja Raiwind' is competent enough to be Prime Minister. And if his little brother Shahbaz and all family members and in laws and cousins and relatives in various ministries and bureaucracies should all be put on a 747 jumbo plane and sent to Saudia. All 475 of them. Committee should come up with THIS suggestions in no more than 2 weeks.

Emad | 9 years ago | Reply Excellent step, when general rizwan akhtar was DG sindh rangers he said on a television show that if the judiciary was to give a 10 to 15 percent benefit of doubt to the law enforcement agencies majority of criminals would be prosecuted. This would also reduce fake encounters and extra judicial killings

Zafar | 9 years ago | Reply Thank you PM. We needed that badly.

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