LAHORE, Jan 13: Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi said on Friday the separate prosecution department would play an important role in getting the criminals punished through proper prosecution of cases in courts. A separate prosecution service also was being created and a bill had already been approved by the Punjab assembly’s standing committee. The bill would be tabled in the house for approval in the next session of the assembly, he said.

The chief minister was talking to Federal Law Minister Wasi Zafar who called on him here. He said the professional prosecutors to be recruited for the service would function independently.

He said the entire investigation system in the province was being established on a scientific basis. The prosecutors would also guide the investigation officers on the investigation of cases.

The chief minister said besides the arrest of the culprits it was also necessary to get them properly punished under the law so as to reduce the crime rate.

Foolproof arrangements had been made to supervise all stages of the registration of an FIR and prosecution of the case in courts. The new department would help properly pursue cases in courts, provide justice to people and get the culprits punished, he said.

He said guidance was also being sought for the establishment of a separate prosecution set-up in the province. This system would help penalize those involved in heinous crime like kidnap for ransom, robbery and murder.

Mr Wasi Zafar said the provincial government had made proper arrangements for dispensation of justice to people by establishing the prosecution department. The federal and the provincial governments were coordinating with each other in this connection, he said.