Vol. 4 No. 4 (2021): Pakistan Journal of International Affairs
Articles

A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN PAKISTAN

Published 2021-12-31

Abstract

The criminal justice system (CJS) consists of government institutions tasked with prosecuting and convicting offenders. The CJS comprises several interconnected pillars: law enforcement agencies, forensic services, the judicial system, and prisons. These pillars are erected to uphold the legal justice ideas. Legal justice is achieved by balancing the rights of an individual with the government's obligation to safeguard and defend those rights, i.e., a concept referred to as 'due process. These fundamental rights cannot be granted or preserved alone without the unwavering devotion of CJ professionals. Pakistan is ranked 130th out of 139 nations examined on their compliance with the rule of law. Pakistan had 319 terrorism-related events in 2020, resulting in 169 civilian fatalities. Pakistan's inefficient CJS has grave implications for internal, regional, and international security.