May 05, 2008	Monday	Rabi-us-Sani 28, 1429

KARACHI, May 4: Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar has suggested appointment of law graduates for investigation of criminal cases, and said this would improve working of the police department.

“The rate of conviction is almost nil and we have to find ways and means to improve the working of the investigation agency i.e. police. If trained advocates are appointed as investigating officers, they will at least lodge FIRs correctly,” he said while addressing at a seminar on “Dissemination of Independent Prosecution Service Reforms” here on Saturday evening.

The seminar, organised under the “Access to Justice Programme”, brought to light the fact that the rate of conviction in Pakistan is only 11.66 per cent as against 37.4 per cent in India, 39 per cent in South Africa, 98 per cent in England (lower courts) and 99.9 per cent in Japan.

Faulty investigation, as well as weak prosecution, in criminal cases are said to be the main reason behind the low conviction rate in Pakistan.

Justice Dogar, who was chief guest at the seminar, said that the prosecution and punishment of criminals was the responsibility of the state and not the victims of crime.

“The role of a prosecutor is to place before the court all evidences whether these are in favour of or against the accused so as to facilitate the court in reaching a just decision,” he said.

The CJP was of the view that a prosecutor should be an independent statutory authority free from the control of agencies, including the police. He described the prosecution and the police as two different agencies, adding that the nature of their functions and responsibilities were distinct and different from each other.

He stressed the need for imparting pre-service and in-service training to prosecutors on the pattern of the civil judges-cum-judicial magistrates.

There should be an effective mechanism to monitor the working of the prosecutors, he said.

Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court Mohammad Afzal Soomro and Senior Sindh Minister Pir Mazharul Haq were among those present at the seminar.