'Justice for the weak': PM Imran vows to make progress

Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Tuesday that improving the justice system in the country is the top priority of his government, promising to facilitate the judiciary in order to make progress on that front.

Addressing the ground-breaking ceremony of the Islamabad District Courts' building in Islamabad, the PM said construction of the courts emphasises the notion of prioritising justice, adding that a country only progresses if its judiciary system is strong.

He remarked that every country was progressing, but Pakistan was regressing, adding that it was due to a lack of rule of law. The PM further said that the weak in society needed justice and protection, adding that the society prospers when the weak get justice.

He further said providing justice to the common man is as important as providing education and health facilities. The PM continued that he was proud of being part of the 2007 lawyers' movement aimed at strengthening democracy and ensuring rule of law.

However, he regretted that the movement could not achieve its desired results.

PM Imran reiterated that overseas Pakistanis were the country's biggest asset, but, he said, they had lost trust due to the country's justice system and were hesitant to invest in the country. "We need to enforce rule of law to encourage them to come back to Pakistan and invest here without any fear," the PM maintained.

Proposed reforms in criminal laws

He regretted that there have been two separate systems in Pakistan, one for the poor and the other for the affluent.

Meanwhile, the PM said that former president General Pervez Musharraf did not have a right to give National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) to the powerful.

"The money stolen was not his, it was the nation's and he did not have the right to give NRO to anyone," he added.

Islamabad District Courts

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has taken responsibility for the construction of the building on PM's directives. The latest technology will be used for the construction which will be completed in six months. The court will comprise 93 courts and will have separate arrangements for the facilitation of lawyers and litigants.

Presently, district courts are operating in small rented buildings in F-8.

Meanwhile, the PM also praised the CDA, saying that due to their efforts, the cost of the project was brought down from Rs6.5 billion to Rs1.5 billion.