A
consultative meeting chaired by Special Assistant to Prime Minister Zafarullah
Khan held today (15th September, 2017) in the Ministry of Law
& Justice to consider possible legislative reforms in criminal justice
system of Pakistan. The meeting was attended by senior representatives of
Ministry of Interior, Human Rights, Foreign Affairs, Narcotics Control
Division, and Law & Justice.
The
SAPM stated that proposal should be prepared for the prisoners involved in
minor offences to engage them in community services for their social
reintegration instead of keeping them in Jails.
Keeping
in view Pakistan’s international commitments and concluding observations on
Pakistan’s obligatory reports, Ministry of Human Rights was directed to conduct
thorough review of laws pertaining to human rights including offences related
to death penalty.
The
concerns of international community regarding disabled prisoners who are on
death row were also discussed. Ms. Rabiya Javeri Agha, Secretary, Ministry of
Human Rights proposed to review imposition of death penalty in drug crimes.
Besides, situation with regard to prisoners particularly women, children,
mentally ill and physically challenged persons were discussed with a view to
protect their rights as guaranteed in the Constitution of Pakistan. It was
agreed that the detail analysis of each category of the prisoners along with
relevant crimes will be undertaken to comprehensively address the issue.
The
meeting noted that in case of any report of death penalty imposed on such
categories of prisoners, the matter would be dealt on humanitarian ground and
Presidential pardon under article 45 of the Constitution will be recommended
subject to certification of the cases by the Provincial Government.
Furthermore,
the issue of persons who were juvenile at the time of offence before
promulgation of Juvenile Justice Ordinance, 2000 and had been awarded death
penalty under the then prevailing law was also discussed.
The
Ministry of Human Rights was of the view that as per Presidential order 2001,
provides commutation of death penalties awarded to juveniles into life
imprisonment, so if there exists any such juvenile who was awarded death
penalty before 2000 should also get benefit from such relief.
Ministry
of Human Rights was directed to review relevant laws of such offences and
prepare proposals for further legislative review, if so required. The Ministry
was further directed to prepare proposal for seeking presidential pardon on
humanitarian grounds of highly deserving cases, as per law.