DAWN EDITORIAL
ENGLISH SHORTHAND PASSAGE
In remarks that reflect reality, the Attorney General of Pakistan acknowledged that our criminal justice system favours the committers of the crime rather than the victims. Speaking at a ceremony to mark the start of the judicial year at the Supreme Court, the Attorney General rightly said that injustice is at its worst if the criminal is socially or financially powerful. He also spoke about the deep flaws in the investigation and prosecution processes that allowed criminals to get away with their crimes. In civil matters, he said, cases linger on for generations and in white-collar crimes criminals pass themselves off as victims due to a faulty accountability mechanism. The Attorney General also regretted that women usually bear the brunt of the injustice prevalent in our system.
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ENGLISH SHORTHAND DICTATION @ 100 WPM SPEED
It is refreshing to hear the Attorney General admit these fundamental and structural flaws within our system. It is unusual for state functionaries to admit how broken our criminal justice system is. It is either a lack of understanding, or of acceptance of this reality, that often leads people to cite harsh punishments as a solution for crimes. Very few among our public office holders display the courage to accept that unless the criminal justice system is reformed, no amount of harsh punishment will curb crime. In the case of the motorway rape incident, we are witnessing similar superficial remedies being offered by parliamentarians and state functionaries at large. These people prefer the shortcut and one that is ineffective of public hangings than the tedious reform process of fixing our policing, investigations, prosecution and transparent litigation that provides justice that is timely and affordable. These are difficult tasks but there is no way around them.
ENGLISH SHORTHAND DICTATION @ 90WPM SPEED
Any government that wants to fix this broken system will need to investigate deep into these matters and repair damaged institutions with consistent and sincere efforts. However for this to happen, the governments of the day will need to depoliticize policing. It is unfortunate that no government in Pakistan, including the present federal and provincial ones, is willing to take this step. If the root cause is not addressed, not much can be achieved except superficial measures that cater more to optics than substance. (370)
