February 16; Experts in discussion with media
representatives believed today that the news media and its role and support
are critical to rule of law reforms in Pakistan. Lack of uniform implementation
of rule of law has become an alarming issue for Pakistan. All major issues facing
Pakistan – rising terrorism, corruption, sluggish economic growth, flight
of talent and capital, dysfunctional justice system, etc. are all manifestation
of a weak rule of law.
PILDAT organised briefing session for media
persons on Role of Media in Strengthening Rule of Law in Pakistan
during which PILDAT’s Rule of Law (RoL) Committee of Experts highlighted
key issues and proposed reforms to strengthen Rule of Law and access to justice
in Pakistan. Prominent media persons, Parliamentarians, experts and youth representatives
joined the lively discussion.
Speaking on the occasion, President of Parliamentary
Caucus on Rule of Law, Senator Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo, said
that Pakistan score and rank on international rule of law index is disappointing
– Pakistan, being the sixth most populous country in the world, is ranked on
a dismal 98th position out of a total of 102 countries on the World Justice
Project Report on Rule of Law Index 2015. He stressed that alongside the Parliament,
the media must also join the cause of strengthening the rule of law in Pakistan.
During the session, PILDAT, Committee of Experts
shared with the media a proposed Reform Agenda. The agenda has been prepared
through countrywide consultations held by PILDAT since August 2015 with public
representatives, subject experts, legal practitioners and journalists to discuss
specific ways and means for strengthening of Police, Prosecution Services, and
Free Legal Aid system in Pakistan.
Discussion focused on how the media can make
political executive, police, lawyers, prosecutors and other relevant authorities
responsive and accountable to their roles regarding access to justice. Experts
also shared international experiences from India and the U.K. on how the local
media collaborated with civil society to generate awareness and successfully
moved local authorities to provide community justice.
Participating journalists and parliamentarians
also discussed the critical timeline for instituting reforms in rule of law
in the context of the 2-year sunset clause placed under the 21st amendment to
the Constitution. They also reiterated that Rule of law is established when
the most powerful submit before the law; no body; no body is above law.
The PILDAT Committee of Experts who spoke at
the Briefing included Mr. Azam Nazeer Tarar, Senior Advocate
Supreme Court and Member, Pakistan Bar Council; Dr. Shoaib Suddle,
Former IG Police; Dr. Suhail Shahzad, Dean, Faculty of Law
& Administrative Sciences, Hazara University; Mr. Muhammad Ali Nekokara,
Former SSP Police and Ms. Ayesha Hamid, Advocate High Court.
Speakers of the session endorsed the need for
training and encouraged journalists to use the Right to Information law frequently
and to continuously play their watchdog role. They agreed that media should
report on and advocate for the need of an effective criminal justice system.
They also lauded PILDAT’s efforts for building their awareness on Rule
of Law and facilitating them for undertaking relevant professional and policy
measures.
Mr. Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, President, PILDAT believed
that media should be an ally in strengthening Rule of Law movement because all
of us benefit from rule of law and all of us suffer when rule of law weakens.
Key parliamentarians who participated in the
session included: Senator Sardar Azam Khan Musakhel (Balochistan,
PMAP), Mr. Shehryar Afridi, MNA (NA 14, Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,
PTI), Rana Muhammad Afzal, MNA (A-82, Faisalabad-VIII, Punjab,
PMLN), Mr. Ramesh Lal Vinkwani, MNA (Sindh, PMLN) and Dr. Fouzia Hameed,
MNA (Women, Sindh, MQM).
Key points of the Rule of Law Reform Agenda
shared with the media and other civil society actors include:
- Allocation of funds and increase in budget for Police;
- Amendment in Section 154 of Code of Criminal Procedure
1898;
- FIRs to be made simple, online and computerised;
- No arrest to be made after FIR without evidence;
- Protection of witnesses through enactment of relevant laws
to prevent resiling testimony from witnesses;
- Establishment of Legal Aid Authority at Federal and Provincial
level; and
- Enactment of Public Defenders & Legal Aid Office Ordinance
2007.
The Briefing Session was organised by PILDAT
as part of Reforms in Rule of Law in Pakistan project,
supported by Development Alternatives Inc. (DAI) under the Enhanced Democratic
Accountability and Civic Engagement (EDACE) project.
For Further Information:
Email: info@pildat.org
Mobile: +92 334 4548452
Twitter: @RoLPakistan
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RuleOfLaw.pk
Website: https://www.pildat.org