In any developed nation, the way law is implemented is a seen as a reflection of what the statute or article was intended for, since modern society is a complex blend of different societal layers, it is necessary to make distinctions based on certain criteria in order to satisfy the ulterior motive of law: to maintain peace and harmony in society. One such distinction is that between the law applicable to adults and that applicable to minors, or in legal terms, juveniles. Pakistan also shared its history of juvenile justice with India, up until its independence in 1947. Even then it took Pakistan fifty-three years to formulate a uniform piece of legislation for juveniles, and then another eighteen to update and revise it considerably. By virtue of the procedure of independence, Pakistan inherited a lot of laws that had been introduced by the British in the subcontinent during their rule. Several of these laws were oriented towards juveniles and the need for their separation from adult, either wholly or partially and some of them survive to this day as well.
Wild Arabs and Savages: A History of Juvenile Justice in Ireland P. Sargent. Manchester: Manchester University Press (2013) 228pp. £70.00hb ISBN 978-0-7190-8916-9; £29.99pb ISBN 978-1-5261-0725-1