KARACHI, June 6: The Sindh Criminal Prosecution Service set up to ensure speedy disposal of a large number of criminal cases pending in the courts is yet to take off as the authorities are dragging their feet on making the new service functional.

The SCPS was constituted on May 13 with the promulgation of the Sindh Criminal Prosecution Services (constitution, functions and powers) Ordinance, 2007, by the governor.

Sources said the provincial authorities had not yet given offices and required staff to the Sindh Prosecutor General, who was appointed on May 16 through a notification by the provincial chief secretary with the approval of the chief minister.

They said the SPG held a meeting with the Sindh chief minister on Wednesday and apprised him of the situation.

The sources said the chief minister directed the authorities to immediately provide the staff and office to the prosecutor-general.

They said the SPG had sent a letter to the SCPS secretariat on May 24 for the allocation of his office and staff and the secretariat forwarded the requisition to the Service and General Administration Department on June 2.

The sources, however, said the SCPS was still waiting for a response from the S&GAD for the allocation of office and staff.

Secretary of the SCPS Ishaq Lashari told Dawn that efforts were being made to acquire offices for the SPG. “We are trying to get space for an SPG office initially in some government building, but the office may also be located in a rented building,” he added.

The aim of introducing the new service was to ensure speedy disposal of cases pending in the courts in large numbers. It was also aimed at ensuring independent prosecution in criminal cases that were hitherto investigated and prosecuted by the police department, creating doubts about the dispensation of justice.

The sources said the SCPS secretariat, housed in the KDA building near the Income Tax building, has been functional for the past one year.

They said the secretariat was manned by 24 officials, including two additional secretaries, one deputy secretary, four section officers, two law officers, one information technology expert, office superintendent and lower staff.

However, the sources said, the SPG had neither staff at his disposal nor did he have any office.

SPG Rana Shamim said he was still waiting for the allocation of staff, office, official transport and accommodation. “I have been holding meetings with the district and sessions judges, district attorneys and special public prosecutors in their offices as I don’t have any office to carry out official work,” he added.

Rana Shamim said more than 100,000 criminal cases, registered across the province, were pending disposal in the trial and appellate courts.

“There are 8,000 cases pending disposal alone in the trial courts of district South, Karachi,” he added.

He said that nine additional prosecutors-general (APGs) and 11 deputy prosecutors-general (DPGs) would be appointed to deal with criminal cases in the Sindh High Court and the Supreme Court. “Those who are already working as assistant advocates-general will be given the option of joining the SCPS as APGs or DPGs,” he added.

The SPG said district attorneys, deputy district attorneys and special public prosecutors were working under the administrative control of the provincial law departments, while assistant district attorneys (prosecution inspectors of police) and Prosecution Deputy Superintendents of Police (PDSPs) were under the administrative control of the home department.

He said the DAs, DDAs, SSPs, ADAs and PDSP would be given an option to join the PCSP under Section 84 of the Ordinance. “However, all the appointments will be finalised on merit by the public service commission,” he added.