ISLAMABAD, March 1: President Asif Ali Zardari has promulgated an ordinance to set up mobile courts in remote areas by amending the Criminal Procedure Code 1898.

President’s spokesman Farhatullah Babar told Dawn that the ordinance had been promulgated on Feb 27. He rejected a perception that the ordinance had been issued on Sunday when the National Assembly was in session.

Under the Constitution, the president cannot promulgate an ordinance when the National Assembly is in session.

“I have not gone through the ordinance, but the basic idea behind it is providing speedy justice to people at their doorstep in rural areas where no judicial set-up exists,” the spokesman said.

Under the system, magistrates will frequently visit remote areas and hold mobile courts.

The Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Ordinance 2009 states that a provincial government may appoint as many persons as it thinks fit to be magistrates of the first, second or third class in any district; and the sessions judge may, from time to time, define local areas within which such persons may exercise all or any of the powers with which they may be invested; and shall direct one or more magistrates of the first class to work as mobile court to try any offence or such offences as may be determined under CrPC.

The jurisdiction and powers of magistrates will be enhanced and extend throughout such districts.

The mobile court will try offences in a summary way as provided in Chapter 22 of the code.Special security will be provided to mobile courts and the district police officer concerned will provide police force and security for their smooth functioning.

The judge of the mobile court would send a daily report to the sessions judge containing details of each case, the ordinance said.
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