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Govt urged to implement PLC proposals for freedom of judiciary

RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: The Pakistan Law Commission has asked the government to consider and implement its reports and recommendations particularly on criminal and juvenile justice system with a view to strengthening the system of administration of justice and for the maintenance of independence of judiciary.

The meeting was attended by Chief Justice Irshad Hasan Khan, Justice Mian Burhanuddin Khan (Retd), Justice Shafi-ur-Rehman (Retd), Justice Fazal Ilahi Khan, Federal Court Chief Justice Mian Mohammad Ajmal, Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Mian Allah Nawaz, Lahore High Court Chief Justice Syed Deedar Hussain, Singh High Court Chief Justice Javed Iqbal, Baluchistan High Court Chief Justice Faqir Muhammad Khokhar, Law Secretary and Justice Division Dr. S.M. Zaman Chairman Council of Islamic Ideology, Basharatullah a senior advocate of Supreme Court, M A Farooqui Registrar Supreme Court and Dr. Faqir Hussain, Secretary PLC.

The meeting which held here in the Supreme Court building was chaired by the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Irshad Hasan Khan, observed that if after consideration of the said reports and the recommendations, the government disagreed then either generally or otherwise a reference to this effect could be made to the Commission for reconsideration on the matter involved.

The Commission was of the view that its earlier recommendation made to the government for proper constitution of the PLC by formally including the Chief Justice of the Federal Shariat Court, four chief justices of the provincial high courts, the Council of Islamic Ideology Chairman a lady member and one Alim member of the Shairat Appellate Bench of the Supreme Court be included in the composition of the Commission.

After the chief justices are included in the composition of the Commission the Chief Justices' Committee shall be the implementation body of the PLC.

The meeting also decided to examine the report of Commission of Inquiry for Women 1997, the report of Council of Islamic Ideology on women and also independently the laws pertaining to the women and finalize its recommendation on the subject. The Commission shall suggest legislative measures to ensure their just, fair, equitable and honorable treatment in all walks of life.

The Commission also observed that corruption must be eliminated from every segment of the society, without exception, by initiating appropriate proceedings before appropriate forums in accordance with the law, justice, fairplay, in transparent manner and in consonance with the principles of natural justice and added that the Supreme Judicial Council should be made functional for accountability of the judges of the superior courts.

The meeting also suggested that Judicial Administration Development Fund should be established by allocating adequate funds at the disposal of the judiciary for strengthening the system of administration of justice and independence of judiciary.

The meeting was also of the view that co-operation between the bar and the bench and mutual respect for each institution is a sine qua non for smooth functioning of the system of administration of justice. This cooperation should be maintained and further strengthened, the meeting stressed.

It also regrets the delay and the inconvenience caused to the press on account of unforeseen events.