Ijaz Kakakhel Islamabad
The federal cabinet on Tuesday approved funds for a fresh census in the country to be completed by December 2022 besides also giving a nod to the criminal reforms policy, making it mandatory for the judiciary to decide criminal cases within nine months.
Addressing media persons after federal cabinet meeting federal minister for information and broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry said that the cabinet has approved Rs5 billion for the census. The census will be completed in December this year, with the release of results in April and May. In January, the Election Commission will be able to start new constituencies; the next election will be on the new census. Sharing the details of the criminal policy approved by the cabinet, the information minister said under the policy, it is mandatory to decide criminal cases within nine months. “In case of failure to decide a case in nine months, the concerned judge will have to clarify his position to chief justice while action will be taken against those lingering the case beyond the deadline,” he said.
Fawad Chaudhry further shared that a plea bargain concept is being introduced in the criminal law which will lead to many cases to be referred to under this facility. “The SHO should be at least BA pass,” he said while sharing a fresh condition introduced in the new policy.
Speaking on Transparency International report showing a rise in corruption in Pakistan, he said that the cabinet discussed the matter and it emerged that only out of eight research companies, one of them has lowered Pakistan’s ranking. Only Economist has given fewer points to the country and you could go and check who owns the company, he said. Transparency International has different criteria. Economist s ranking should be checked by the ones who check it in Pakistan.
