Judge of Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) Justice Tariq Parvez has advocated certain changes in the criminal jurisprudence saying, “Given the current situation in the country and in the counter terrorism world, certain changes are necessary in the criminal jurisprudence so as to counter the menace of terrorism.”
He expressed these views in the inaugural ceremony of the six-day
colloquium on “Modern Investigation and Evidence Gathering Techniques in a Changing Criminal Justice and Counter Terrorism World” being held in the Federal Judicial Academy (FJA) Islamabad in collaboration with the British High Commission Islamabad on Monday.
“Changes in the criminal jurisprudence were essential to convict the accused expeditiously and uphold the rule of law in the country. When I was the Chief Justice of Peshawar High Court, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province, previously called the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) where hundreds of thousands of terrorism acts have taken place and claimed several thousands of lives so far, keeping in view the difficult situation there and also on the basis of my 25 years experience as a lawyer who had practiced in the criminal field before elevation to the bench as judge, I had suggested certain amendments in the criminal law,” he maintained.
About the importance of the colloquium, he said, “This six-day colloquium was relevant to enrich the knowledge and sharpen the skills about the modern investigation and evidence gathering techniques in a changing criminal justice of counter terrorism world of our judges in the field dealing with such cases.
I think that it would have been far better if there was participation of investigating agencies in this workshop who normally dealt with the practical side of the issue. I hope that the academy would also arrange a joint workshop for the law enforcement agencies personnel and judges in the future.”
The FJA Spokesman Hashim Abro said that 20 district judiciary judges including District and Sessions Judges and Anti-terrorism Court Judges from all over Pakistan were attending this six-day colloquium in the academy.
