Abstract:
The criminal justice system (CJS) of a country is a vital apparatus for establishing law and order by holding offenders accountable, thereby preserving peace, prosperity, and stability in society. Pakistan's CJS has faced significant challenges since the country's inception, and over the last 20 years, its effectiveness has deteriorated substantially. The real conviction rate in Pakistan is alarmingly low, not exceeding 5%, and public trust in the CJS is at its nadir. In light of rising concerns about rampant crime and the weak response of the CJS, this research aims to examine the challenges and threats facing Pakistan's CJS, with a focus on its structural and statutory flaws. The stakeholders of Pakistan's CJS include the police, prosecution services, courts, and corrections. This research explores the inadequacies within two central components: the Investigation branch of the police and the Provincial and Capital (Islamabad Capital Territory) Departments of Prosecution. Additionally, a comparative study with the United Kingdom's CJS is conducted, with an emphasis on legal frameworks, police structures, and prosecution systems. The background of work gives a thorough overview of the criminal justice systems in Pakistan and the UK, pointing out their similarities and differences. The literature review examines the body of research on the roles played by the police and prosecution in criminal investigations in both nations, identifying research gaps and the thesis statement that the study has addressed. With an emphasis on the use of contemporary technology and forensics, the study questions and objective are intended to investigate the difficulties that police and prosecutors encounter while carrying out their duties. Research also examines the extent of corruption, incompetence and political interference in both branches.
The significance of this work stems from its ability to inform policy and practice in both Pakistan and the United Kingdom by identifying best practices and viable alternatives for improving the performance of the criminal justice system. This research focuses on only two CJS mechanisms. In general, this work helps to a better understanding of the criminal justice system in Pakistan and its comparative case study with the United Kingdom, as well as to provide insights into the roles of police and prosecution in investigating and prosecuting criminal cases for the administration of justice.
