Prime Minister Imran Khan has constituted a Cabinet Committee for the disposal of legislative cases to streamline the process of legislation in the parliament.
The Committee would be headed by Federal Minister for Law and Justice Farogh Naseem and comprise Minister for Human Rights Dr. Shireen Mazari, Minister for Narcotics Control Azam Sawati, Minister for Science and Technology Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, federal minister concerned (by special invitation), Prime Minister Advisor for law and Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan, Prime Minister’s Advisor on Accountability and Interior Shazad Akbar, Secretary Law and Justice Division, Cabinet Secretary and Joint Secretary of PM office.
The term of reference of the Committee include: to examine whether fresh legislation or amendments in the existing laws were in line with the constitutional scheme and falls within the mandate of the parliament.
Manmade laws have always room for amendment and refinement to clear the grey areas therein and ascertain as to whether an enforced legislation is in consonance of the basic structure and spirit of the constitution. But unfortunately, in the always polarised political culture of Pakistan no attention has been paid to amend the laws inherited from the colonial era and the legislations that are made after the adoption of 1973 Constitution. The attempts made by the opposition to block the passage of certain legislations in Senate are recent examples.
Over the years, Judiciary has been urging the executive and legislature to reform the Criminal Justice System to avoid delays in the disposal of cases in courts. Former Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, in a media talk in Karachi on January 13, 2019,, underscored the need for Judicial System Reforms. He said that the laws that were created centuries ago by the British Rulers of the subcontinent cannot be applied anymore. He urged lawmakers to consider bringing reforms in the legal system.
Similarly, another former Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, in his address at on “Expeditious Justice Initiative: Roadmap to Time-bound Criminal Trial Regime at Federal Judicial Academy on April 14, 2019 regretted the apathy shown by the parliament to accord priority to justice system. He said, “It is the state and legislature to come up with laws, which should be clear, unambiguous and easy to apply.” In his tenure of CJP, Justice Asif Saeed Khosa established ‘Model Court’ to provide speedy and inexpensive justice to the people in trial courts.
The initiative produced wonderful results in the shape record number of disposal of cases. He said that Judiciary is discharging its responsibility, the parliament and executive must also show interest in Judicial System so that the entire system can be reformed and start delivering.
