Institutional and Structural Dimensions of Police-Prosecution Coordination: A Qualitative Case Study from Islamabad, Pakistan

Abstract

Effective coordination between law enforcement personnel and public prosecutors is critical in maintaining the integrity and effectiveness of the criminal justice system. This qualitative case study examines the institutional and structural dynamics of police-prosecution coordination in Islamabad, Pakistan. By adopting Institutional Theory and Resource Dependence Theory as theoretical perspectives, the study examines how formal rules, informal routines, and interdependencies over resources shape collaborative relations. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with fifteen police investigators and five public prosecutors and analyzed using thematic coding procedures. The findings indicate that while there are formal institutional requirements, routine working practices are significantly shaped by informal norms, role definition ambiguities, and fractured communication channels. Moreover, resource interdependencies complicate power relations, often limiting effective case preparation and advocacy in the courtroom. The Islamabad case represents more prevalent systemic issues typical of Pakistan's justice system, suggesting an imperative for holistic reforms addressing clarifying roles, standardizing procedures, and strengthening accountability among agencies. This study contributes to academic and policy discourses, offering insights for future empirical studies on reform models specifically tailored for transitional legal systems.