The Role of Identification Parade in the Criminal Justice System of Pakistan

Abstract

Identification parade is not a new concept it is used in criminal cases for centuries. Article 22 of Q.S.O 1984 does not define identification parade but introduce identification parade as a relevant fact. The detail procedure of identification parade is been provided in high court rules and some guide line are also provided in police rules 1934.identification parade cannot be solely based of conviction unless corroborated with other evidence. It is investigation tools the only scope of identification is to nominate the person unknown at the time of F.I.R. and seen by the victim or eye-witness of the occurrence.it is conducted by judicial magistrate at jail or any other place. In criminal case it is not the issue that weather the crime is committed or not but the real challenge for the investigation agency is to find out the real culprit and preparator of the crime. We have a large number of cases in which the accused is unknown which make it more important.over-emphasizing on the identification parade can leads to wrongful conviction. As a tool of investigation its importance cannot be under- estimate. The main object of this article is to analyze the measures to insure the fairness while conducting identification parade, purpose and objective of the identification parade, evidentiary value and admissibility of identification parade, identification parade is a type of evidence, irregularities and its impact while conducting identification parade, effect of delay and different modes of identification, usefulness of identification test in criminal justice system, all these is discuss in light of the superior court decision.in last the article discuss some criticism on identification parade and how can the issues be overcome which the critics highlighted.