CODE PAKISTAN holds consultations with Punjab Bar Council

October 26, 2017: CODE PAKISTAN held a round of consultations with lawyers of the Punjab Bar Council in Lahore today. The consultations with Punjab Bar were held with an aim to get the lawyers’ perspective on the high number of under-trial prisoners and how to address overcrowding in prisons with special reference to high pre-conviction detention.  The consultations were part of the nation-wide study being conducted by CODE PAKISTAN to identify the causes and consequences of high numbers of under-trial prisoners (UTPs) leading to overcrowding in Pakistan’s prisons and coming up with a thorough assessment of the criminal justice system with regard to delays in the processing and adjudication of cases. CODE PAKISTAN is conducting the said study on the formal request of the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA), which is mandated to implement the National Action Plan (NAP), unanimously agreed upon by the political leadership of the country in December 2014. Revamping of the criminal justice system is the 20^th point of NAP. CODE PAKISTAN’s study will be dovetailed to NACTA’s efforts in conducting research on Point 20 of NAP mentioned above.

The consultations with the lawyers of the Punjab Bar Council were held so as to get the lawyers’ opinion on the project on addressing overcrowding in prisons by reducing pre-conviction detention, to identify core issues and possible solutions to reduce overcrowding in prisons in Pakistan, particularly with reference to UTPs, and to establish a point of contact with the Punjab Bar Council members for future deliberations.

At the start of the consultation, President CODE PAKISTAN Mr. Dilawar Khan informed the participants about the study and introduced it as a collaboration between CODE PAKISTAN and NACTA, in pursuance of Point 20 of NAP to revamp the criminal justice system and as a matter specifically invested into by the Ministry of Interior, Pakistan. He went on to discuss the issue of overcrowding in Pakistan’s prisons, the incidence of pre-conviction detention, and the study on addressing overcrowding in Pakistan’s prisons with special reference to high pre-conviction detention.

The consultations were held in a very cordial atmosphere wherein a candid exchange of views took place. The plight of prisoners including women, issues related to the procedures and practice of the grant of bail, bailable and non-bailable offenses, incidence of under-trial detention in prisons in Punjab, issues related to submission of challan, the Prison Management Information System, District Legal Empowerment Committees, and other aspects associated with judicial delay came under discussion during the consultation with the Punjab Bar.

Mr. Khan then inquired about District Legal Empowerment Committees (DLECs) and their efficiency in Punjab.

Participants of the consultation included Mr. Malik Inayat Ullah Awan, Vice Chairman, Punjab Bar Council; Mr. Shahzada Fahad Abbas, Advocate High Court; Mr. Farhad Ali Shah, Member Punjab Bar Council; Ms. Khalida Parveen, Member Punjab Bar Council; Mr. Hafiz Ansar ul Haq, Member Punjab Bar Council; Mr. Rafaqat Ali, Additional Secretary Punjab Bar Council; Mr. Fayyaz Ahmed, Member Punjab Bar Council; Mr. Jalil Qaiser, Member Punjab Bar Council; Mr. Nadeem Tahir, Manager Information Technology, Punjab Bar Council; Mr. Mohsin Ali Turk, Senior Advisor, CODE PAKISTAN; and Ms. Sana Taha, Research Assistant, CODE PAKISTAN.