ISLAMABAD: Lawyers on Thursday observed a countrywide full-day strike to protest against the decision of the National Judicial Policy Making Committee (NJPMC) on Sections 22A and 22B of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).
The strike call was given by Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) Vice-Chairman Syed Amjad Shah, demanding an immediate reversal of the said decision.
The court proceedings were badly affected as counsels of the litigants did not appear before the benches.
Lawyers also held protest meetings in their respective bar rooms against the decision of the NJPMC to stress for acceptance of their demand for reversal of the decision and restoration of previous practice regarding registration of FIRs.
The lawyers were of the view that through new setup the procedure of dispensation of justice would be lengthy and expensive for an aggrieved person.
After formation of the committee, an aggrieved person would have to approach to the superintendent of police before pleading to the court, they added.
NJPMC formed a complaint cell in every district to deal with complaints related to unregistered FIR and police failure to fulfil their duties.
The formation of complaint cell under the supervision of the superintendent of police (complaints) under Sections 22A and 22B of the CrPC is to hear complaints against police, which earlier came directly under the supervision of the Justice of Peace or sessions judges.
It added that an aggrieved person can still lawfully approach a justice of the peace or a high court in respect of a complaint against the police after exhausting his adequate alternate statutory remedy before a superintendent of police (complaints).