PLEA BARGAINING IN PAKISTAN: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Abstract

Plea bargaining involves a suspect agreeing to plead guilty in return for the prosecutor dropping the charges or recommending a lesser charge or lighter sentence. This research paper analyzes the context of this concept, its efficiency, and the impacts of justice and equity. Although plea bargaining is efficient in that it decongest courts and helps the quicker dispensing of justice, it has some merits that have brought concerns regarding coercion, corruption, and unfair outcomes. This research study also assesses the legal framework of plea bargaining in Pakistan, its conformity with international norms, and its role in restraining white-collar crimes. The study ends with policy implications regarding the possible ways of improving the measurement of plea bargaining outcomes and increasing the transparency and fairness of the practices.