The government on Thursday introduced multiple legal reforms to drastically amend the existing criminal and civil statutes and also finalised the draft of a bill under which federal courts would be established throughout the country. The two acts would be discussed at the next session of the NA, Law Minister Wasi Zafar told reporters while announcing the new reforms. Under the proposed amendments, the police's [powers] to arrest people have been curtailed. If a policeman arrests a person on suspicion, he will immediately have to get the arrest verified by the police station chief. If a person is illegally detained, the arresting officer will be liable to 7 years' imprisonment. Similarly if a police officer refuses to register a First Information Report (FIR), a case can be registered against him under Police Order, 2002. |