14th meeting of Provincial Justice Committee held
PESHAWAR (APP): The 14th Meeting of the Provincial Justice Committee was held here Friday in the PJC Hall, Peshawar High Court, under the chairmanship of Mr. Justice S.M. Attique Shah, Chief Justice PHC.
The meeting was attended by Members of the Administration Committee of the Peshawar High Court, the Advocate General Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Chief Secretary, Inspector General of Police, Additional Chief Secretaries, Secretaries of relevant departments, Director General Prosecution, Inspector General Prisons, representatives of the Law & Justice Commission of Pakistan, Anti-Corruption Establishment, Anti-Narcotics Force, KP-IT Board, Forensic Science Laboratory, and other co-opted members.
According to press release, committee reviewed the progress on key justice-sector initiatives and discussed the following agenda items includes strengthening of regional and mini forensic science laboratories (FSL), observation homes and juvenile rehabilitation centers across districts and offenders management system and justice-sector data integration.
Inter-provincial transfer of accused (policy and procedural streamlining), land acquisition/transfer and construction of judicial complexes (including Newly Merged Districts) and Provincial Courts Complexes at divisional headquarters.
Shelter mechanisms for vulnerable segments and regulation/capacity of Shelter Homes/Dar-ul-Aman, facilitation matters for District Judiciary infrastructure, measures to reduce under-trial prisoners and improve criminal justice administration besides budgetary matters relating to Labour Courts and Consumer Courts and priority jail issues (utilities, security/operational concerns, pending infrastructure requirements) also came under discussion.
Disposal/management of case property, explosives and confiscated assets/vehicles, narcotics-case reforms including sampling oversight and dedicated Maal Khanas, police accountability and service delivery measures, including investigation cost rationalization and Regional Police Complaint Authority, shortage of public prosecutors in identified districts and implementation of directions issued in the Five-Member Bench Judgment on investigation standards and related matters were also discussed.
In his remarks, Chief Justice emphasized that ensuring expeditious and inexpensive justice is a constitutional obligation of the State, and that this mandate can only be realized through coordinated, integrated and accountable functioning of all justice-sector institutions.
The Chief Justice further underscored the need for comprehensive revamping of the criminal justice administration through effective coordination among all stakeholders, and directed the concerned departments to ensure time-bound compliance of earlier decisions and submission of progress reports before the next meeting.
The provincial justice committee reiterated its resolve to strengthen institutional collaboration, enhance service delivery within the justice sector, and ensure expeditious and transparent administration of justice in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
