Tag: pakistani justice sytem

  • ‘Use of blasphemy laws for political purposes is also blasphemy’: Justice Minallah

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has prohibited the police from filing blasphemy cases.

    The order was issued by IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah on Wednesday while hearing a petition filed by former federal information minister Fawad Chaudhry to prevent the police from arresting Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) members who were charged with blasphemy after a hooliganism incident in Masjid-e-Nabawi.

    Justice Minallah said the use of blasphemy laws for political purposes is also blasphemy.

    Before detaining somebody under the blasphemy laws, he noted, the police must satisfy the court of reasonable justification.

    The FIRs were filed by citizens, according to the deputy attorney general. CJ Minallah, on the other hand, interposed, claiming that the FIRs were filed with malicious intent.

    During the hearing on May 2, the court ordered the police not to arrest the PTI leaders, stating that they are still members of the National Assembly and cannot be detained without the Speaker’s approval.

    Cases were registered against various PTI members including Chairman Imran Khan, Fawad Chaudhry, Shahbaz Gill, Sheikh Rashid, and his nephew Rashid Shafique, who have been charged for violating Pakistan Penal Code sections 295 (defiling a place of worship) and 296 (disturbing a religious assembly).

  • Former CJP Gulzar Ahmed will get foolproof security

    Former CJP Gulzar Ahmed will get foolproof security

    The Ministry of Interior has approved the Supreme Court (SC) Registrar’s request of providing foolproof security to former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed.

    The Registrar’s Office requested foolproof security for the retiring judge at home and throughout his travels in a letter dated January 27.

    “Justice Gulzar Ahmed has dealt with a number of high profile cases of public importance, matters of constitutional and sensitive nature including terrorism, extra-judicial killings, minorities’ issues, enforcement of fundamental rights, restoration of the Karachi Circular Railway and directing removal of encroachments and launching of criminal investigations against officials involved in misconduct,” the letter read.

    “Therefore, to avoid any untoward incident, the Government of Pakistan may take all possible measures to protect the life, liberty and honour of the Hon’ble Chief Justice of Pakistan and his family after his retirement,” it added.

    Read more- Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Gulzar Ahmed retires tomorrow

    Justice Gulzar had taken oath as the CJP in December 2019. He retired on February 1 and was replaced by Justice Umar Ata Bandial who took oath as Pakistan’s 28th Chief Justice of Pakistan on February 2.

  • ‘I want all daughters of Pakistan to stay safe,’ Noor’s father demands justice

    A protest took place today outside the Islamabad Press Club to seek justice for Noor Mukadam. The protest was co-hosted by Noor’s sister Sara Mukadam. Noor’s father Shaukat Ali Mukadam addressed the gathering at the protest and appealed to the authorities to award exemplary punishment to the the prime suspect of his daughte’s murderer, Zahir Jaffer.

    “I want all daughters of Pakistan to stay safe. May they never see these days. My mission in life is to get justice for Noor so that Pakistan’s women to feel safe in their homes, their offices and on the streets. May they never go through things like this, nor their parents.”

    Noor Mukadam’s sister recited a poem at the protest. “You were my better half, my better version, my soulmate and now I will have to live incomplete without you for the rest of my life,” she said.

    People came to the protest to support Noor Mukadam and her family in Islamabad today.

    Actor Osman Khalid Butt also came forward to show his support.

  • Justice Ayesha not elevated to the Supreme Court

    The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) has not approved the nomination of Justice Ayesha Malik as a Supreme Court (SC) judge.

    “As a lawyer, I feel that the JCP needed to set a transparent criteria for appointment, failing which has resulted in what we have seen today. And I feel that the more unstructured this becomes, more transparency is lost within the judicial system,” lawyer Noor Ejaz told The Current.

    “As a woman, I am disappointed. Women in law have rarely been given high ranks without being under strict scrutiny. I hope Justice Ayesha serves as the CJ of the Lahore High Court and is elevated to the Supreme Court soon and I hope the JCP implements a structure so that other women can aspire towards higher office without fearing how discretion might treat them,” added Noor Ejaz

    “It is a dark day because first-time nominee of a woman judge’s elevation to the Supreme Court could not be approved,” senior journalist Hasnaat Malik told The Current.

    He also added that if Justice Ayesha is not elevated to the SC, then she will become Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court. “Justice Ayesha’s name can be initiated anytime for the SC,” said Hasnaat.

    Read more- In-depth analysis: Everything you need to know about Justice Ayesha Malik’s SC appointment

    Human Rights Watch (HRW) welcomed the nomination of Justice Ayesha Malik to the Supreme Court of Pakistan. However, lawyers across the country recorded their protest today.

    As per the Lahore High Court website, Justice Ayesha Malik completed her education from Paris and New York and did her Senior Cambridge from the Karachi Grammar School in Karachi. She did her A-Levels from the Francis Holland School for Girls in London. She assumed office in March 2012