No need of suo motu if institutions work efficiently; Orders IGs to ensure police reforms implementation
Staff Reporter
Lahore
Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa said on Saturday that if the rulers did their jobs right then the courts won’t feel the need to interfere. The chief justice was addressing a ceremony after chairing a meeting on police reforms.
“Whenever a matter captures the public’s attention, people expect a suo motu notice,” he said. “If the government institution is active beforehand then the court does not need to take a notice on it,” he added.
He said that the Supreme Court was the last place where people should seek justice. The chief justice said that he didn’t think it was appropriate for senior officials to present themselves time and again in front of the courts.
“One should maintain the dignity of a police official or any other person who appears before the court,” he said. The chief justice said that if the Supreme Court starts interfering in matters of the government from day one then it creates difficulties.
He said that for justice to be dispensed to the masses speedily it was necessary for police to conduct their investigations efficiently. “My first task as chief justice was to protect the dignity of those who seek justice from the courts,” he said.
He praised the courts for wrapping up cases and providing people with speedy justice in a short span of time. “Model courts wrapped up 24,000 cases relating to drugs,” he said. Justice Khosa said that concrete steps had been taken to counter false testimony. He said that the investigating officer will also be treated like a suspect in a case of false testimony.
“From now on, the investigation officer will be held responsible for his investigation,” he said. “It’s not possible that the investigation officer does not know the truth.”
He urged judges and the courts to do their part as well in ensuring that false testimonies are identified. Justice Khosa said that it was not the job of the investigation officer to prove everything that the complainant says.
He said a matter comes to SC after investigation and trial. “One should maintain the dignity of a police official or any other person who appears before the court,” he said.
The CJP said retired police officers played an important role in reforms committee, adding that as lawyer and as judge he had a pleasant relation with police. He said model courts have brought revolution in the judicial history of Pakistan. Earlier, CJP chaired the session of Police Reforms Committee to examine progress achieved in reforms in the police department.The session was attended by inspector generals of four provinces, Gilgit Baltistan and Islamabad. CJP Khosa ordered to ensure timely registration of cases and said that the quality of investigation should be improved.
He also directed officers to ensure implementation of police reforms on the priority basis.
The top judge also ordered immediate resolutions of complaints received by the Police Complaint Cell.
