LAHORE: The Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) has hit out at the government for keeping 700 of the 1,200 posts of prosecutors in Punjab vacant, creating hurdles in the way of courts for providing justice.

Referring to the killing of Malik Ishaq in a police encounter, PAT General Secretary Khurram Nawaz Gandapur said it was necessary to ascertain why the existing justice and prosecution system failed to penalise Ishaq for 23 years.

“A system that does not punish a terrorist for 23 years should not question or complain about setting up of military courts.”

He alleged that the Punjab government had been supporting dangerous terrorists for many years (a reference to reported financial aid for Malik Ishaq’s family) and now it was killing them in police encounters. He demanded a probe into the government action.

The priority of providing justice by the Punjab government could be judged from the fact that out of 1,200 posts of prosecutors, more than 700 were vacant, he lamented.

“The rulers instead of providing relief to courts are creating problems in the justice system as courts cannot provide quick justice without prosecutors.” He said many questions arose after the Muzaffargarh police encounter.

Published in Dawn, August 1st, 2015

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