Tag: judicial system

  • Audio leaks commission to make proceedings public

    Audio leaks commission to make proceedings public

    The three-member judicial commission that was established to look into the audio leaks involving judges and the judiciary has decide to make its proceedings public.

    Justice Qazi Faez Isa, Chief Justice of the Balochistan High Court, Naeem Akhtar Afghan, and Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court, Aamer Farooq, are part of the commission.

    Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan appeared in the first meeting of the commission.

    Justice Qazi inquired from the attorney general that under which law the government formed the commission.

    The Attorney General said that this commission was formed under the Commission of Inquiry Act 2016.

  • Prisoners in Pakistan exposed to diseases in overcrowded jails: HRW

    Prisoners in Pakistan exposed to diseases in overcrowded jails: HRW

    According to a report released by Human Rights Watch, Pakistani authorities have systematically deprived prisoners of adequate health care, leaving thousands at risk of disease and death.

    The report, titled “A Nightmare for Everyone: The Health Care Crisis in Pakistan’s Prisons,” highlights the widespread deficiencies in prison health care in Pakistan and the impact on a total prison population of over 88,000 people. Outdated and discriminatory bail laws have contributed to severe overcrowding, with most prisoners still awaiting trial or conviction.

    Pakistan’s prison system is one of the world’s most overcrowded, with cells designed for a maximum of three people holding up to 15. This overcrowding has compounded existing healthcare deficiencies, leaving inmates vulnerable to communicable diseases and unable to obtain even basic health care, let alone emergency medical treatment.

    Human Rights Watch interviewed 54 people, including former inmates, lawyers, prison health officials, and advocacy organizations working on prisoner rights, and found that the principal cause of overcrowding is the dysfunctional criminal justice system itself. Most inmates are under trial and have yet to be convicted, and the majority facing criminal trials are poor and lack access to legal aid.

    The crisis in prison health care reflects deeper failures in access to health care across Pakistan, exacerbated most recently by an economic crisis. Corruption among prison officials and impunity for abusive conduct contribute to serious human rights abuses.

    The report calls for urgent, systemic reform of Pakistan’s prison system, including changing bail laws, expediting the trial process, and prioritizing noncustodial sentences to reduce overcrowding. Pakistani governments at the federal and provincial levels should urgently adopt measures to bring health care in its jails and prisons in line with international standards, such as the Nelson Mandela Rules.

  • Cannot air anything related to the conduct of serving judges, says PEMRA

    Cannot air anything related to the conduct of serving judges, says PEMRA

    Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has prohibited electronic media to broadcast anything which is related to the conduct of serving judges of High Courts and Supreme Court (SC).

    In a notification, issued on Thursday, PEMRA said that it has been observed that despite repeated directives, satellite TV channels are “persistently discussing the conduct of honourable judges of superior courts and orchestrating vilification campaign through airing slanderous allegations.”

    It also added that the broadcast of such a thing is a clear violation of the PEMRA Ordinance, hence they have issued the orders.

    PEMRA has also warned that if the orders are not implemented, the license of the respective TV channel will be suspended.

    The development has taken place when the credibility of judges is being discussed after alleged audio leaks of a Supreme Court judge came to light.

    In the audio conversation that was leaked online last month, allegedly featured former Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Pervaiz Elahi talking to and about a sitting SC judge.

    Later, in a YouTube show “Talk Shock”, veteran journalists Azaz Syed and Umar Cheema claimed that more audio leaks related to judges might surface soon.

  • ‘Overseas Pakistanis ki maujain’: Cabinet approves separate judicial system for expats

    ‘Overseas Pakistanis ki maujain’: Cabinet approves separate judicial system for expats

    Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry, while addressing a press conference after the cabinet meeting, said that Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has approved a separate judicial system for Overseas Pakistanis.

    Fawad shared that the cabinet has approved the formulation of a separate judicial system for the expats for summary trial.

    The minister further said that the implementation of the laws will come in accordance with PM Khan’s vision to facilitate overseas Pakistanis, who are a precious asset of the country.

    The federal minister further revealed that a similar judicial system will also be established in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, where PTI is in power.

    Fawad said that the administrative issues of courts should be dealt with in line with the view of the government.

    “Pakistan is facing an administrative crisis due to stay orders given by the courts,” said Fawad, adding that lawsuits are “cheaper in Pakistan than in the world”.

  • ‘Burden of pending cases needs to be lightened, lawyers come prepared’: CJP Bandial

    ‘Burden of pending cases needs to be lightened, lawyers come prepared’: CJP Bandial

    Justice Umar Ata Bandial after being sworn in as the 28th Chief Justice of Pakistan, in an oath-taking ceremony at the Presidential Palace, made his first appearance in a courtroom as the CJP and conversed with lawyers.

    “We need to lighten the burden of pending cases. Lawyers should come prepared and avoid seeking extensions,” he said.

    The lawyers welcomed and congratulated the newly appointed top judge.

    At this, Justice Bandial thanked them and said it was a pleasure for him to be with them.

    A day earlier, Justice Bandial while speaking at a full-court reference held in honour of the outgoing chief justice, criticised mainstream and social media alike for resorting to attacking judges rather than criticising their judgements.

    “The differences in judges’ opinions in matters of law arise from our individual perceptions and this diversity brings richness to our understanding,” said Justice Bandial.

    Justice Bandial will continue as the chief justice till his retirement on September 18, 2023.

  • Court declares NDMA responsible for Murree tragedy

    Court declares NDMA responsible for Murree tragedy

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has declared National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) responsible for the Murree tragedy which killed 23 people, including children due to carbon monoxide poisonous gas in their cars.

    The NDMA Chairman is Lieutenant General Akhtar Nawaz since 2020.

    During the hearing, the court asked the NDMA whether a letter had been written to the Opposition leader to call a meeting of the commission. At this, the official said the Opposition leader had not asked them to call a meeting, reports Geo News.

    “You have failed, it was your responsibility to call a meeting, you were responsible for providing a national management plan to the area,” the justice told the management member.

    Justice Minallah said that had the NDMA ensured that everyone followed the law, such incidents would not have happened.

    It is also revealed that NDMA held its last meeting on March 28, 2018. To this court chief Justice Athar Minallah questioned that, “It is a powerful body. How come no meeting took place since 2018.”

    The court ordered Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan to call a meeting of the commission next week and directed the NDMA member to submit a report on the incident by next Friday.

    The hearing was called because of a petition by Hammad Abbasi, a Murree resident. According to him, on their way to Murree neither were they stopped and nor were they warned of the danger.

  • Twitter welcomes first female Supreme Court Judge of Pakistan

    Twitter welcomes first female Supreme Court Judge of Pakistan

    History has been made as a divided Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) approved the nomination of the first woman judge to join the Supreme Court (SC).

    Lahore High Court Justice Ayesha A. Malik’s nomination was secured by a majority of five to four during a heated JCP session that lasted nearly three-and-a-half hours, reports Dawn.

    She may even have a chance to become the first woman to be Chief Justice (CJ) of Pakistan. If she is elevated following approval from an eight-member bipartisan parliamentary committee, Justice Malik will remain a judge of the SC until 2031.

    The justice gave her landmark judgment back in June, when she had declared virginity tests for examination of sexual assault survivors “illegal and against the Constitution of Pakistan”. She was called upon as an expert witness in family law cases conducted in England and Australia involving issues of child custody, divorce, women’s rights, and constitutional protection for women in Pakistan.

    Following the news, congratulations are in order and people have shared their happiness on Twitter.