KARACHI, March 6: The Sindh government has given the DCOs, EDOs (Revenue), DOs (Revenue) and ADO Mukhtiarkar the powers of first-class magistrate for three months beginning from 1st of Muharram.

The above-mentioned officials have been given the powers of first-class magistrate within their territorial jurisdiction with the condition that the officers so appointed shall be designated as special judicial magistrates and they should possess either a degree in law or have six months’ magisterial experience, who will work under the direct control and supervision of respective sessions judges.

The powers so conferred must be confined to provisions of Chapters-VIII, X, XIII and XIV of PPC (except in relation of non-bailable offences) and be reliable to ensure safety of life and property; and that after the expiry of three months’s time cases pending trial will stand transferred to their respective judicial magistrates designated for the area and that the above conferment of powers will be in addition to, and not in a derogation of, those exercised by judicial magistrates, who will be competent to proceed with cases already pending before them or such other cases as may be instituted in their courts through the normal procedure.

The ordinary judicial magistrate will be competent to try offences such as contempt of court of their authority in their presence of which they can take suo-motu notice. —PPI