Juvenile Justice Regime in Pakistan: Evolutional Disposition and Challenges

Abstract

Juvenile justice system addresses the conception of “juveniles in conflict with law”. This notion provides the account of contravention of law by the juvenile and is also sometimes regarded his delinquent behaviour that needs to be addressed through the consideration of law. Different legal systems provide special frameworks that address this conflict by providing special laws. These special laws render special treatments and protocols to counter this conflict while considering the vulnerability status of the child. In Pakistan a special law known as ‘Juvenile Justice system Act, 2018’ (JJSA) deals with juvenile justice regime. This law is the successor of 'Juvenile Justice System Ordinance, 2000’ (JJSO). This paper discusses the evolution of juvenile justice regime while considering the different challenges pertinent to the treatment of juveniles in Pakistan. It culminates to answer the question “How this evolution of juvenile justice regime in Pakistan addresses challenges pertinent to its effective operationalization”.  The paper argues that although JJSA 2018 has fulfilled many shortcomings contained in JJSO but still flaws like non-operationalization of Juvenile justice committees, absence of counselling facilities and other problems of its application persist that demands a thorough investigation. It provides a comparative overview of both these laws by using qualitative research method and import critical approach to address these concerns. It offers strategies conducive for the effective operationalization of JJSA, 2018.