Peshawar High Court CJ emphasises revamping of criminal justice system

PESHAWAR: Peshawar High Court Chief Justice SM Attique Shah on Friday underscored the need for comprehensive revamping of the criminal justice system through effective coordination among all stakeholders, and directed the relevant departments to ensure time-bound compliance with decisions.

Chairing 14th meeting of the Provincial Justice Committee here, the chief justice directed the departments to produce progress reports in that respect during the next committee meeting.

The meeting was attended by members of the PHC Administration Committee, advocate general, chief secretary, inspector general of police, additional chief secretaries, secretaries of relevant departments, director general (prosecution), inspector general (prisons), representatives of the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan, anti-corruption establishment, Anti-Narcotics Force, KP-IT Board, Forensic Science Laboratory, and other co-opted members.

The committee reviewed the progress on key justice-sector initiatives and discussed different agenda items including strengthening of regional and mini forensic science laboratories (FSL); observation homes and juvenile rehabilitation centres across districts; offenders management system and justice-sector data integration; inter-provincial transfer of accused (policy and procedural streamlining), and land acquisition and transfer and construction of judicial complexes (including merged tribal districts).

Provincial Justice Committee vows to ensure speedy delivery of justice

It also examined provincial courts complexes at divisional headquarters; shelter mechanisms for vulnerable segments and regulation and capacity of shelter homes; facilitation matters for district judiciary infrastructure; measures to reduce under-trial prisoners and improve criminal justice administration; budgetary matters relating to labour courts and consumer courts; priority jail issues (utilities, security and operational concerns, pending infrastructure requirements); disposal and management of case property, explosives and confiscated assets and vehicles; narcotics-case reforms including sampling oversight and dedicated maal khanas; police accountability and service delivery measures, including investigation cost rationalisation and Regional Police Complaint Authority; shortage of public prosecutors in identified districts, and implementation of directions by a five-member bench on investigation standards and related matters.

The chief justice emphasised that ensuring expeditious and inexpensive justice was a constitutional obligation of the state.

“This mandate can only be realised through coordinated, integrated and accountable functioning of all justice-sector institutions,” he said.

The committee vowed to strengthen institutional collaboration, enhance service delivery within the justice sector and ensure expeditious and transparent administration of justice in the province.

Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2026

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