December 15; At the second meeting of first ever multi-party Parliamentary Caucus on Rule of Law (PCRoL), convened by Honourable Senator Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo, Parliamentarians from both the Senate and National Assembly gathered together to debate upon measures to uphold Rule of Law in Pakistan.
Dr. Shoaib Suddle, Former IGP Sindh and Balochistan
and Mr. Muhammad Ali Nekokara, Former Senior Superintendent of Police, highlighted
challenges to effective policing in Pakistan and put forward recommendations
for reform.
The present ratio of police officers to citizens is unsatisfactory; while the
UN standard is of 1 officer for every 450 citizens, it is disappointing to note
that in Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi there is one police officer for every
337, 625 and 880 citizens respectively.
Parliamentarians emphasised that it is alarming for Pakistan being the sixth most populous country in the world, to be ranked on a dismal 98th position, out of a total of 102 countries in the world on the World Justice Project Report on Rule of Law Index 2015. Our neighbouring country, India, ranks at the 59th position. These rankings reflect the dilapidated state of Rule of Law in Pakistan, specifically with respect to gaps in policy and legal reforms.
Senator Bizenjo, supported by attending Parliamentarians, underscored the need of a joint effort of like-minded Parliamentarians across party lines, which is crucial in addressing this issue to strengthen effective reform and implementation of laws in Pakistan.
Mr. Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari (NA-173, Dera Ghazi
Khan-III, Punjab, PML-N), Chair, Rules of Business Committee, presented proposed
Rules of Business for smooth and streamlined functioning of the Caucus, which
were adopted unanimously by all Caucus members present at the occasion.
Among other esteemed parliamentarians present were Ms. Romina Khurshid Alam
(NA-295, Women Punjab – XXIII, PML-N), Ms. Shaista Pervaiz (NA-278, Woman
Punjab-VI, PML-N), Senator Taj Haider (Sindh), Senator Muhammad Usman Khan Kakar
(Balochistan), Dr. Shezra Mansab Ali Khan Kharal NA-137 (Nankana Sahib-III (Old
Sheikhupra-VII, Punjab, PML-N), Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah (NA-214, Old Nawabshah-II,
Sindh, PPPP), Dr. Arif Ur Rehman Alvi (NA-250 Karachi-XII, Sindh, PTI), Senator
Lt. General (Retd.) Abdul Qayyum (Punjab), Mr. Shafqat Mehmood (NA-126, Lahore-IX,
Punjab, PTI), Mr. Ghous Bux Khan Mahar (NA-203, Shikarpur-Cum-Sukkur (Old Shikarpur-II),
Sindh, PML-F), Senator Jehanzeb Jamaldini (Balochistan), Dr. Fouzia Hameed (MNA,
Sindh, MQM) and Senator Sardar Muhammad Azam Khan Musakhel (Balochistan).
The Caucus is supported by PILDAT under its initiative to strengthen the Rule
of Law in Pakistan.
