Original and Modified Text in the Crime Investigation System of Pakistan: A Critical Forensic Linguistic Analysis

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the legal discourse in the crime investigation system of Pakistan by applying critical forensic linguistic analysis. Discourses regarding the legal system are planned by police officers, lawyers and judges. It involves the complex procedure of investigation and trial in courtrooms which mentions topics of interest and public concern. The mixed method research was carried out through a comprehensive theoretical framework that includes Van Dijk’s model of Sociocognition and as well as his ideological square model defined by a double norm for positive self-representation and negative other-representation concurrently. The study illuminates two other points of view in Van Dijk’s concept of ideological square: Us vs Them representation. The current study focuses on the three prominent murder cases that are decided on different dates by the courts of Pakistan. Total 30 extracts were selected regarding the modification done by different social actors from the legal discourse. In order to analyze the discourse, the discursive technique has been employed which emphasize ‘our’ good and de-emphasize their ‘bad’. Moreover, this study analyzed legal text by critical forensics linguistics analysis of selected three murder cases of different nature, postmortem reports, forensic reports, police records and court decisions. The findings of the study showed that there lie modifications in the investigation system of Pakistan, on the basis of which the accused are given the benefit of doubt and are released from the charge leveled against them. Throughout the investigation and trial system, Lawyers, Judges, Medical Officials, Forensic experts, and Police Officers express their findings and opinions about the investigation.  The current study provides academic researchers with a critical and better understanding of the application of forensic linguistics in legal settings and will also be helpful for police officers, lawyers, and judges to avoid modification in legal discourse and to fulfill the demands of justice.