PESHAWAR: Peshawar High Court on Thursday gave a month’s time to provincial government for taking concrete measures to implement its judgement delivered for improving criminal justice system.

A bench consisting of PHC Chief Justice S M Attique Shah and Justice Mohammad Ijaz Khan directed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah to submit a compliance report within a month.

Expressing annoyance over security situation in the province, the PHC chief justice remarked that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was burning, and there was no one to care for it. “The southern districts are burning due to terrorism. No one can go to Dera Ismail Khan, Karak or Tank,” he remarked, adding that he was personally travelling to DI Khan, but did not receive security clearance to go there.

The bench fixed July 1 for next hearing of a contempt plea by petitioner Asifullah, stating that respondents including provincial government had failed in complying with the direction and guidelines laid down by a larger bench of the court in its judgement delivered on Jan 15, 2026.

PHC chief justice voices concern over security situation in KP

The petitioner stated that respondents failed to establish any meaningful compliance mechanism and also did not submit the requisite compliance reports.

The chief secretary, Shahab Ali Shah, the advocate general, Shah Faisal Uthmankhel, the home secretary, Usman Mehsud, the finance secretary, Kamran Afridi, the director general of prosecution, Mohammad Rafiq Mohmand, the deputy secretary home, Qayyum Khattak, and other administrative and police officials appeared in the case.

The bench inquired from the chief secretary as to why the decision of the larger bench had not been implemented. “We ordered strengthening of the prosecution, why hasn’t it been done,” the bench questioned.

The PHC chief justice pointed out that the officers of prosecution department didn’t go to sensitive districts, whereas their female district and sessions judge was posted in Karak and was performing duty there.

“If our female judge can perform her duty there, why can’t other officers go? You must take steps to alleviate hardships of people,” the PHC chief justice addressed the chief secretary.

“It is a matter of shame that DNA samples from our province are sent to Lahore, as there is no DNA testing laboratory in the province,” the bench observed.

The chief secretary and the advocate general informed the bench that a supplementary report was submitted in light of the larger bench’s judgement, and implementation on various court directives was under way.

They informed the court that the establishment of a forensic science laboratory was included in Annual Development Programme (ADP) and formal discussion was initiated with National Engineering Services Pakistan (Nespak) in that regard.

They said that an amendment bill recommended by the high court would be presented before provincial assembly for necessary amendments in relevant laws. They also stated that various proposals to improve the investigation system were under consideration and were being finalised.

Mr Uthmankhel informed the bench that a PC-I costing Rs550 million was prepared to rectify loopholes in various laws and the entire responsibility was assigned to relevant departments.

He said that despite economic constraints faced by the province, the high court’s decision was being implemented in its letter and spirit. He added that ‘witness protection board and victim protection units’ were being established to ensure safety of witnesses in various cases.

The chief secretary assured the court that he would personally look into the matter. He sought two to three weeks’ time for doing the needful. He said that they had prepared a report, which would be shared with the court.

During course of hearing the PHC chief justice inquired: “We have dismissed 21 officers from service over corruption. Tell us, how many officers were dismissed in the last 70 years?”

The bench observed that no leniency should be shown to corrupt individuals. “Terminate the officers, who do not work and deploy good officers. Inform us if there is any political interference.”

The bench asked the chief secretary to let them know if he faced any problem or pressure from anywhere. “In this province, most accused in criminal cases get acquitted,” the court remarked.

The court also directed the inspector general of police (IGP) to submit a report regarding proper registration of FIRs and to file a response regarding progress on implementation of court orders.

It is pertinent to mention that the larger bench had released a comprehensive 149 pages judgement over the matter after considering reports and arguments submitted by stakeholders including provincial law and home department, police, prosecution, health and senior lawyers etc and suggestions made by them for improving the criminal justice system.

“An independent forensic science agency, with satellite regional offices at each divisional headquarters on the model of Punjab Forensic Science Agency, shall be established with separate statutory status to ensure quality, authenticity, and timely processing and submission of forensic reports,” the bench had ordered.

Published in Dawn, May 22nd, 2026