LJCP not impressed by enforcement of laws

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: The Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan (LJCP) on Saturday expressed dissatisfaction over the enforcement of laws in Pakistan.

The commission, which met in the Supreme Court (SC) building here, approved amendments of a procedural nature to expedite trial proceedings. The amendments include speedy investigations, submission of challans in a given period of time and eliminating unnecessary adjournments for quick justice. The commission also approved amendments to the Government Services Medical Attendance Rules so that a government servant’s second wife will be included in the definition of family and will be entitled to medical benefits. The LJCP also approved an amendment to the Land Revenue Rules of 1968, providing that the principle of primogeniture will not be the only consideration for the appointment of a lumberdar (village headman). The commission said lumberdars should be appointed on merit.

The commission approved an amendment to the Requisitioning of Immovable Property Act of 1965 so that the government’s power to requisition private property is exercised in the public interest and subject to timely payment of the property’s market value. According to the amendment, the requisition will be revoked if compensation is not paid within three months.

The LJCP also approved increased fines for offences under Sections 427, 428, 429 and 435 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

It approved amendment to Sections 11-A, 11-B and 11-C of the Pakistan Security Act of 1952 so that an adverse action with regard to confiscation or sale of an enterprise or undertaking in the interest of national security, defence or external affairs should be made subject to reasonable grounds and the owner or management of the property should be allowed a hearing before action is taken. The commission also approved an amendment to Section 87 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), saying a proclamation should be published in at least three national newspapers, one in Urdu and one in a regional language, requiring the absconder to appear before the court and face trial.

The LJCP approved enhancement of penalties under the Children (Pledging of Labour) Act of 1933. The commission stated that the penalty under the law should be increased to Rs 20,000. In case of a second conviction, an imprisonment between six months to two years and Rs 20,000 fine or both should be awarded. The commission also approved an amendment to Rule 1, Order XXXIII of the Civil Procedure Code (CPC), to expand the category of paupers exempt from the payment of court fees from Rs 1,000 to Rs 25,000.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Sheikh Riaz Ahmed chaired the meeting attended by Syed Sharifuddin Pirzada, senior advisor to the prime minister, Justice Nawaz Abbasi, principal secretary of the Law and Justice Ministry, Justice Ejaz Yousaf, chief justice of the Federal Shariat Court, Justice Sayed Ashhad, chief justice of the Sindh High Court, Justice Raja Fayyaz Ahmed, chief justice of the Balochistan High Court, Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan, chief justice of the Peshawar High Court, Justice Iftikhar Hussain Chaudhry, chief justice of the Lahore High Court, Justice (r) Majida Rizvi, chairperson of National Commission on the Status of Women, Syed Afzaal Haider and Muhammad Aslam Chishti, advocates, and LJCP Secretary Dr Faqir Hussain.

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