PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court chief justice has directed the prosecution directorate to ensure timely production of police witnesses before trial courts in criminal cases so as to expeditiously dispose of cases of under-trial prisoners.

Chief Justice Mohammad Ibrahim Khan chaired the 12th Provincial Justice Committee (PJC) meeting here on Thursday and took stock of several issues related to criminal justice system.

The meeting was attended by Advocate General Aamir Javed, PHC Registrar Inamullah Wazir, Additional Chief Secretary (P&D) Syed Imtiaz Hussain Shah, ACS (Home) Abid Majeed, KP Inspector General of Police Akhter Hayat Khan, senior member Board of Revenue (SMBR) Ikramullah, secretaries of finance, administration, excise & taxation, law and parliamentary affairs departments and joint secretary Law and Justice Commission (LJC).

At the outset, the chief justice remarked that litigant public was the prime focus of the justice system and it was thus imperative for all the stakeholders to make concerted efforts to minimise their plight associated with protracted litigation through timely and effective dispensation of justice.

The directives issued by the National Judicial Policy Making Committee (NJPMC) about expeditious disposal of cases of under-trial prisoners (UTPs) came up for discussion.

While directing the prosecution to produce the police witnesses before trial courts without delay, the chief justice also urged the AG and ACS (home), to actively pursue the matter of simplified mechanism of inter-provincial transfer of accused persons with the ministry of interior in order to expedite the UTP cases to alleviate their suffering.

After an update by the ACS (home), IGP and secretary finance, regarding progress on projects of establishment of the forensic science laboratory, observation homes and juvenile rehabilitation centres and integration of software of the justice system components, the chief justice desired prompt follow-up for timely completion of the projects.

Likewise, jail issues were thoroughly discussed. The ACS (Home) assured the chair that issues of concern shall be resolved shortly.

Showing serious concern over the delay in acquisition of land and release of funds for judicial complexes in newly merged districts (NMDs), the chief justice desired the SMBR to resolve all the administrative issues within one month to entail release of funds by the finance department for early construction of complexes.

Regarding the issue of security, particularly in NMDs, the IGP said that adequate security has been provided throughout the province.

As far as shifting of courts in NMDs, the chief justice ordered immediate measures for transfer of courts to their respective territorial jurisdictions in order to make justice easily accessible to the people at their doorstep for their inclusion in the mainstream, which was the objective of merger of the erstwhile Fata.

The misuse of seized vehicle/case property received a critical consideration and the chief justice directed the relevant quarters to share all such data with the district and sessions judges concerned for prompt disposal of the cases and consequent open auction of the relevant confiscated case properties in accordance with law.

The meeting ended with a mutual vote of thanks for occasioning useful interaction by the participants to advance the cause of justice in the province.

Published in Dawn, December 1st, 2023