Workshop at PHC: Efforts to promote rule of law discussed

PESHAWAR: A two-day workshop started here on Tuesday at the Peshawar High Court (PHC) to discuss efforts to promote the rule of law and strengthen the criminal justice system in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including the merged districts.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Judicial Academy organized the workshop, focusing on the annual work plans and performance of the Provincial Justice Committee (PJC) and District Criminal Justice Coordination Committees (DCJCCs).PHC Senior Puisne Judge Justice Ejaz Anwar attended the opening ceremony as the chief guest.

PHC Registrar Mohammad Zaib Khan, Director General of the Judicial Academy Jehanzeb Shinwari, Additional Registrar (Admin) Mamrez Khan Khalil, district and sessions judges, the special secretary for Home and Tribal Affairs, additional secretary for Social Welfare, Inspector General of Prisons, Director NJPIC/PJC, police officers, Director General Prosecution, Vice Chairman of the KP Bar Council, President of the Peshawar High Court Bar Association, Director of Probation and Reclamation Directorate, and representatives of various development partners attended the event.

The workshop, held under the “Deliver Justice Project”, aims to enhance cooperation, coordination, and communication between the provincial and district-level criminal justice committees. It seeks to address key challenges such as case backlogs, prison overcrowding, and gender-based violence.

In his address, Justice Ejaz Anwar described the project as a significant initiative for promoting the rule of law. He highlighted the various challenges faced by the justice system in Pakistan and emphasized the importance of strengthening the PJC and DCJCCs to ensure improved delivery of justice.

Registrar Mohammad Zaib Khan noted that the workshop’s objective was to foster better alignment among institutions involved in the criminal justice system. He said the event would produce actionable recommendations and an implementation plan to enhance communication flows, share best practices, resolve institutional challenges, and monitor performance.

Speaking on the occasion, UNDP representative Shehzada Bashir Ahmad shed light on the background of the project. He explained that the initiative was being implemented with the support of the European Union, UNDP, UN Women, and UNODC.