Criminal Prosecution Services of Pakistan
Criminal Prosecution Services of Pakistan
Introduction
In Pakistan, public prosecution is a provincial subject. Thus, matters pertaining to administration and financial control of the prosecution service are within the purview of the provincial government. On the other hand, matters pertaining to rules of procedure and duties of prosecutors at criminal trials are governed by the Criminal Procedure Code of 1898.
The prosecution service throughout had remained under the home department, and had been regulated by the police from which the public prosecutors and deputy public were drawn from the ranks of deputy superintendents of police and inspectors. Under no condition was any officer below the rank of sub-inspector authorized to act as a prosecutor in any case.
In 1985, for the first time the prosecution was transferred from the administrative control of the police department and placed under the law department. the designations of prosecutors working as public prosecutors and deputy public prosecutors were changed to district attorneys and deputy district attorneys.
In 1994, the prosecution service was transferred back to the administrative control of the police. the district attorney and other designated law officers were transferred back to the police department at the same level as deputy superintendents of police, inspectors and sub inspectors.
In 2002, prior to the coming into force of the police order 2002, the prosecution service was again taken out of the administrative control of the police department and placed under the provincial law department.
Organizational Hierarchy of Criminal Prosecution Services
Presently, criminal prosecution services of a province are headed by the prosecutor general. The organizational hierarchy of criminal prosecution services is as under;
a. Prosecutor General b. Additional Prosecutors General c. Deputy Prosecutors General d. District Public Prosecutors e. Deputy District Public Prosecutors f. Assistant
Introduction
In Pakistan, public prosecution is a provincial subject. Thus, matters pertaining to administration and financial control of the prosecution service are within the purview of the provincial government. On the other hand, matters pertaining to rules of procedure and duties of prosecutors at criminal trials are governed by the Criminal Procedure Code of 1898.
The prosecution service throughout had remained under the home department, and had been regulated by the police from which the public prosecutors and deputy public were drawn from the ranks of deputy superintendents of police and inspectors. Under no condition was any officer below the rank of sub-inspector authorized to act as a prosecutor in any case.
In 1985, for the first time the prosecution was transferred from the administrative control of the police department and placed under the law department. the designations of prosecutors working as public prosecutors and deputy public prosecutors were changed to district attorneys and deputy district attorneys.
In 1994, the prosecution service was transferred back to the administrative control of the police. the district attorney and other designated law officers were transferred back to the police department at the same level as deputy superintendents of police, inspectors and sub inspectors.
In 2002, prior to the coming into force of the police order 2002, the prosecution service was again taken out of the administrative control of the police department and placed under the provincial law department.
Organizational Hierarchy of Criminal Prosecution Services
Presently, criminal prosecution services of a province are headed by the prosecutor general. The organizational hierarchy of criminal prosecution services is as under;
a. Prosecutor General b. Additional Prosecutors General c. Deputy Prosecutors General d. District Public Prosecutors e. Deputy District Public Prosecutors f. Assistant