A conference ‘Rule of Law ´ Significance of Independent Prosecution Service in Criminal Justice System’ was held on Tuesday, April 15, 2014, at Ramada Hotel, Multan, as part of GIZ-CRSS-PPD advocacy campaign for the Support to the Punjab Prosecution Service (SPPS) project.

Former Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilaniaddressing CRSS conference on Importance of Independent Prosecution Services in Criminal Justice System in Multan

Former Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani was the chief guest. Deputy Prosecutor General, Punjab, Abdul Wadood, President of Multan Bar Advocate Sher Zaman Qureshi, Senior Journalist Shaukat Ashfaq and Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) District Coordinator Rashid Rehman spoke on the importance of an independently-working prosecution service in criminal justice system.

Addressing the conference, the former prime minister quoted personal examples and saida fair trial was never conducted in all the cases he faced. He said the society could not gain strength without justice and the role of an independent prosecution service was critically important in conducting a fair trial to dispense justice.

Mr Abdul Wadood gave an overview of the Prosecution Service and informed the audience about the working of the department and the reforms being introduced to build the capacity of the prosecutors. He also pointed out the difficulties being faced by the officers.

Mr Sher Zaman expressed confidence in the prosecution service and said it was a good thing that had happened in the province. However, he said there was a lot more to do so that a common man really felt that no innocent person would be wrongly implicated in criminal cases and punished.

Mr Shaukat Ashfaq said the system could not be improved until every individual respected law of the land. He said it was equally important to analyse and understand as to what exactly went wrong that today we were advocating for rule of law. He said there was respect for laws in 1960s and the society was peaceful, liberal and progressive.