KARACHI, July 1: Acting Ambassador of Netherlands Teunis Halff on Monday said a properly functioning judicial system is one of the important ingredients of good governance.
Speaking at a function to hand over 11 computers to the judicial complex established in the premises of the Karachi Central Prison, he hoped that these computers would help in expediting work in the complex, providing relief to the under-trial prisoners.
Mr Halff said he had come to inaugurate the complex over a year back and at that time a proposal for providing airconditioners and computers for the complex was put forward.
Though the proposal for supplying airconditioners did not materialize, the envoy said he was happy that his government had provided computers to streamline and expedite work in the courts.
He said computers have become one of the most important equipment without which an office could not function properly and efficiently.
The Dutch envoy said his government would welcome any proposal for assistance in the field of good governance. Referring to an invitation forwarded by federal minister Shahida Jameel, he promised to visit the jail premises again and witness the functioning of the computers once it had been installed.
Out of the eleven computers, the Governor’s House, law secretary’s office, inspector-general of prisons office, Karachi Central Prison, women’s and youthful offenders’ industrial school in the city, central prison in Hyderabad and Sukkur central prison would get one computer each, while four computers would be installed for four judges in the judicial complex at the Karachi Central Prison.
Earlier, federal minister for environment Shahida Jameel said internet connections would also be provided on the computers which have been provided at a cost of approximately Rs750,000, so that the jails, judicial complex, etc., would become online and people could get required information instantly.
Giving a brief resume of the judicial complex, she said such facilities were available in many developed countries. She said in Houston, Texas (USA) courts were established at the top floors of jails.
The minister said the idea to set up the judicial complex was to expedite the cases as due to the lack of proper transportation, security and other facilities the under-trial prisoners were not regularly brought to courts and they suffered as their cases could not be decided on time.
She said Sindh was the first province where a judicial complex was set up over a year back in Karachi. She said Punjab law minister during his visit to the complex liked the idea so much that it had been replicated in his province. She said that soon such complexes would also be established in Sukkur and Larkana.
Shahida Jameel invited the Dutch ambassador to visit the facility again after the computers are installed and started operation.
IG prisons Nisar Maher said he had computerised almost the entire records of the department and with the help of these computers the judiciary and relevant people could also get an access to the records of the jails. The level of communication would also improve once the prisons started operating online through the internet.
Additional district and sessions judge, posted at the judicial complex, Bashir Ahmad Khoso, said over 200 cases had been decided and over 500 under-trial prisoners were provided relief. The oldest case that was decided at the complex had been filed in 1987.
He said all kinds of cases, including murder, robbery, kidnapping, etc., were being tried in the courts. He said as the complex was located in the premises of the prison, a lot of time was being saved and cases were decided expeditiously, which benefited the under-trial prisoners, including women and children.