Extrajudicial Punishments Are Becoming the Norm in the Country Due to Systemic Delays, Warns Khawaja Saad Rafique; Calls on Judiciary and Government to Formulate a Swift Justice Framework
LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior leader and former federal minister Khawaja Saad Rafique has voiced concern over the woes of the country’s judicial system stating that extrajudicial punishments have become commonplace in the country.
In a detailed policy statement, Saad Rafique had stated that the primary responsibility of state agencies was to bring those behind the commission of heinous crimes to book, however, the core responsibility of judiciary was to ensure a fair and speedy court trial and punish criminals.
The Justice System’s key highlights from Khawaja Saad Rafique’s statement.
Breakdown of Justice System: Rafique said that Pakistan’s justice delivery system is at the verge of collapsing owing to extraordinary delays, institutional bottlenecks and absence of justice for complainants and affected people and no mechanism for redressal of their grievances.
Extrajudicial Action: As ordinary citizens have been deprived timely justice from the law enforcement agencies, the former minister said the agencies have taken judicial functions and normalised extrajudicial punishments.
Warning of Anarchy and Vigilantism: Rafique warned that if an efficient and effective justice system is not put in place promptly, the trend would not be confined to the law enforcement apparatus, but rather be picked up by influential groups in the streets and public square, thereby leading to vigilante mob justice. He directed the government and judiciary to design a tangible action plan in the soonest possible time.