PESHAWAR, May 7: Federal Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao has said that the government has launched numerous judicial reforms which would dispense expeditious and inexpensive justice to the people at their doorsteps. He said this while speaking at the installation ceremony of newly-elected cabinet of Charsadda District Bar Association on Saturday.

The constitutional, judicial and financial reforms of the government were aimed at strengthening the democratic institutions, providing speedy justice and eradicating the menace of poverty from the country, he said.

Mr Sherpao said that judicial reforms were under way in both civil and criminal judicial systems which would overcome the problems of litigants.

He said that the civil and criminal work was separated which was a step towards court management mechanism and raising the efficiency of the courts and added that in criminal cases pre- trial and post trial work had been distributed at magisterial level.

Mr Sherpao administered oath of the newly elected cabinet of Bar Association, said a press release issued here on Saturday.

An amendment had been proposed to check the delinquent witnesses in criminal trials. The courts while awarding sentences under section 373A CrPC, will consider the factors such as age, health, character previous history and some other matters of the accused, Mr Sherpao who is also the central leader of PPP (sherpao) said.

Now the prisoners awarded death penalty would not be put in condemned cell unless the sentence was confirmed by high court and added that women would be given priority over men in bails if they were not involved in heinous crimes such as narcotics, terrorism, robbery, dacoity and murder, he said.

Measures were under way to overcome burden over the courts by encouraging outside court settlement in civil courts through alternate dispute resolution methods.

He said that the trend of delay would be discouraged by restricting the adjournments to twice and recording the examination of witnesses through commissions, he said, adding that the procedure of granting temporary injunctions (stay orders) would be regulated through notice to respondents.

He said that the masses had given five years mandate to the government and it would complete its tenure so there was no need to hold snap polls. He rejected the demand of opposition for general elections this year.

The local bodies elections would be conducted this year. All constitutional amendments adopted by President Pervez Musharraf had been thoroughly discussed and the LFO issue was then resolved through 17th Constitutional Amendment Bill.

He contended that the government strongly believed in democracy therefore it always preferred dialogue in all issues. The government has allowed debate over issues such as Iraq, Wana and Balochistan in the parliament, he said.

He said that the proposed constitutional package recommended by the parliamentary committee on Balochistan would strengthen provincial autonomy which would benefit all federating units of the federation.

He informed the Bar members that the police powers had been curtailed in police order 2002 by enhancing the scope of public safety and complaint commission. Mr Sherpao said that investigation, prosecution and watch & ward had been separated from each other which would mitigate the problems of the general public.

He said that police would not abuse its power to arrest the people without justification and prior to arrest, the accused and his family would be provided gist of offence against him. He said that challan submission in the court would be expedited and the negligent police personnel would face consequences for delay in timely submission of challan in courts.

President of District Bar Association Charsadda, Saadullah Khan presented the welcome address.