20000312

CJ urges govt

to implement PLC

recommendations

LAHORE: The 11-member body of the Pakistan Law Commission (PLC), headed by the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Mr Justice Irshad Hasan Khan, urged the government to implement the PLC reports and recommendations on priority basis in order to strengthen the system of administration of justice in vogue.

The 11-member body unanimously adopted a seven-point agenda highlighted by the chief justice of Pakistan in its meeting held here on Saturday at the Supreme Court Punjab Branch Registry.

The meeting was attended by 10 law commission member including Mr Justice Mian Burhanuddin Khan (Retd), Mr Justice Shafi-ur-Rehman (Retd), Chief Justice, Federal Shariat Court Mr Justice Fazal Ilahi Khan, Chief Justice, Lahore High Court Mr Justice Mian Allah Nawaz, Chief Justice, High Court of Sindh Mr Justice Syed Deedar Hussain Shah, Chief Justice, High Court of Balochistan Mr Justice Javed Iqbal, Federal Secretary, Law and Justice Division Justice Faqir Mohammad Khokhar, Chairman Council of Pakistan Ideology Dr S M Zaman and Senior Advocate, Supreme Court Basharatullah. The eleventh PLC member, Senior advocate, Supreme Court, Abdul Hafeez Pirzada, couldn't attend the meeting as he was abroad.

The meeting was also attended by Registrar, Supreme Court M A Farooqui and Secretary, PLC Dr Faqir Hussain.

The meeting particularly recommended the taking up of report on criminal justice system and report on juvenile justice system and the observations of the chief justice of Pakistan in the case, Liaquat Hussain vs Federation of Pakistan (PLD 1999 SC 504) by the government on priority basis.

The meeting held that if, after consideration of the report the government disagrees with such recommendations, either generally or otherwise, a reference to this effect be made to the commission for reconsideration.

The meeting also urged the government by for the proper constitutions of the Pakistan Law Commission by formally including the Chief Justice of Federal Shariat Court, four chief justices of provincial high courts, chairman, Council of Pakistan Ideology, a lady member and one 'Alim' member of the Shariat Appellate Bench of the Supreme Court as recommended earlier to the government.

It also decided that the commissioner would examine the report of the commission of enquiry for women, 1997, report of the Council of Islamic Ideology on women and also independently the laws pertaining to women and finalise its recommendation on the subject. The commission suggested legislative measures to ensure their just, fair, equitable and honourable treatment in all walks of life.

The commission also urged the government to eliminate corruption from every segment of the society, without exception, by initiating appropriate proceedings before appropriate forums in accordance with law, justice, fairplay, in transparent manner and in consonance with the principles of natural justice.

The commission also stressed that Supreme Judicial Council should be made functional for accountability of the judges of the higher courts.

It called for the establishment of judicial administration development fund by allocating adequate funds at the disposal of the judiciary for strengthening the system of administration of justice and independence of judiciary.

It also sought cooperation between the bench and the bar as mutual respect for each institution is a sine qua non for smooth functioning of the system of administration of justice.ÑAPP