A meeting of the Criminal Justice Coordination Committee (CJCC) was held on Wednesday with District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Azam Rana in the chair to review key issues affecting the criminal justice system and to ensure expeditious disposal of cases.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner Imran Hussain Ranjha, District Police Officer (DPO) Muhammad Imran, Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Ashraf, besides other judges and senior officers of police and other departments.
The DSJ observed that the CJCC plays a vital role in strengthening coordination among departments aiding justice delivery and is held regularly every month.
Participants reviewed delays in submission of police reports under Section 173 CrPC (Challans) against accused persons. DPO Rajanpur was directed to eliminate such delays immediately and ensure timely production of witnesses in courts in pending trials. Police were also instructed to arrest proclaimed offenders and absconders without delay and submit challans promptly to avoid postponement in case decisions.
The DPO was further directed to ensure that challans of juvenile and under-trial prisoners, are submitted to the relevant courts without delay. It was also decided that FIRs ordered to be registered by courts under Sections 22-A/22-B CrPC should be lodged forthwith.
DPO was instructed to enhance protective arrangements for courts, residences of judicial officers and litigants attending courts. DC was directed to ensure implementation of the Punjab Restriction on Employment of Children Act 2016 and strengthen child protection measures across the district.
The superintendent district jail was asked to ensure production of all prisoners before courts during hearing hours, while probation and parole officers were asked to assign community service to eligible offenders in accordance with law.
The CEO Health informed that the number of beds at the district facility for rehabilitation of drug-dependent persons had been increased to eight. The committee also reviewed issues relating to probation, parole and forensic reports and discussed measures for their timely processing.
Others who were in attendance included Senior Civil Judge Tahir Mahmood, SP Muhammad Ashraf, Public Prosecutor Abid Hussain Bhatti, Superintendent Jail Ghulam Sarwar Langrial, probation officer Ms Romana Azeem, political assistant/commandant BMP Nasir Shehzad Dogar, CEO health Dr Amir Shabbir, MS DHQ hospital Dr Abdul Hameed Anjum, Xen buildings Abdul Majeed, SDO Mepco Muhammad Jawad, DO Crime Control Mujahid Hussain Goraya, deputy director social welfare Tehmeena Dilshad, assistant director Dar-ul-Aman Ms Shabana Kanwal, assistant director labour welfare Mian Jahangir Ahmad, assistant director environment protection Ms Sana Rubab, and Civil Defence/Bomb Disposal Officer Shehzad Khalid.