Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, while addressing an event regarding Criminal Law and Justice Reforms in Islamabad, said that massive amendments in law would help bring a revolution in the criminal justice system and simplify the procedure for the common man living in Pakistan.
The prime minister said for the first time, the government was making changes in the laws introduced during the British rule to bring improvement to the way justice was dispensed.
PM Khan said that none of the previous governments ever thought about reforming the century-old laws in order to maintain the status quo and accommodate the elite.
The premier said the civil law reforms were a step towards ensuring rule of law in the country, that too in line with Islam’s first socio-welfare state of Madinah.
He quoted a hadith of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), emphasising that many earlier nations were destroyed because there were separate laws for the powerful and the weak.
Prime Minister Imran said the lack of supremacy of the law was the “biggest obstacle” preventing Pakistan from progressing. Talking about overseas Pakistanis, he said they were the country’s biggest asset and their income was equal to that of 220 million Pakistanis.
Federal Law Minister Barrister Farogh Naseem, speaking at the occasion, said the Code of Criminal Procedure needed changes and mentioned that the newly-introduced 700 amendments had completely overhauled the existing legal system.
Explaining those amendments, he said that the formation of a statute of an independent prosecution service, forensic laboratory, and prison rules were significant reforms.
Parliamentary Secretary for Law Maleeka Bokhari said over 700 amendments made in the criminal procedure code were a milestone of the PTI government and will ensure prompt delivery of justice.
